Small holder farmers have been urged to venture into contract farming to access training and extension services as well as getting a ready market for their crops and animals.
Speaking at a workshop for contract smallholder farmers held in Harare yesterday, various farmers who have been engaged in contract farming hailed the programme saying it has improved their lives. Chinhoyi cotton farmer Mr John Muzari said before engaging in contract farming he had problems in accessing fertilizer and seed for a new season as the proceeds from the previous season would have been spent on family issues. "I do not worry about seed and other inputs any more because they are provided by the company I am contracted to. I am able to use the profits to develop my farm," he said. He also urged farmers to stick to a single contracting company so that they could build trust and grow together.
Mzingwane ostrich farmer Mr Matthew Mpofu echoed the same sentiments saying contract farming has improved the livelihoods of farmers in his area who are now able to build bigger houses and send their children to boarding schools.