Sugar beans farmers in Chipinge have threatened to withhold their produce until they get acceptable prices from buyers.
The farmers accuse middlemen of ripping them off, taking advantage of the scarcity of buyers and offering them only US$0.70 per kg.
Farmers in Middle Sabi, Chibuwe and Musikavanhu Irrigation Schemes have started selling their sugar beans but are not happy with the prices being offered by middlemen.
One of the leading producers of sugar beans, Saymore Majuta of Musikavanhu Block Five, said the production of sugar beans is now an expensive venture and farmers need a fair price. He said:
As farmers, we agreed that we will not sell our beans for a song. These middlemen are getting more than what the actual farmer is pocketing and we are saying no to that daylight robbery.
We are looking for serious buyers and we hope to strike a deal soon. Growing sugar beans is now an expensive venture.
Imagine a 50kg bag of top dressing fertiliser is going for US$70 and then someone wants to buy a kilogramme of our produce for less than a dollar.
Chairperson of Middle Sabi Farmers Association, Skumbuzo Thondlana warned middlemen against shortchanging farmers and urged buyers to come up with realistic prices.
Chipinge District Extension Officer, Tapiwa Chagwesha said farmers should form syndicates when selling their cash crops.
More: The Manica Post