UNSCRUPULOUS cattle buyers have descended on farmers around Lupane taking advantage of their desperation to buy cattle at give away prices.
This came to light during a Lupane farmers’ forum organised by Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) at Masenyane Primary School on Wednesday last week.
“Lack of access to the right information about market prices helps city buyers take advantage of us. We sometimes sell our cattle for $250, as we will be desperate for money,we also sell our cattle to middlemen, who give us less money for the value of our cattle, as we have no money to transport the cattle to town and sell them directly to reliable buyers” said Ms Adelaide Ndlovu, a farmer.
Farmers also say reliable buyers like GMB delay to pay them and thus they end up selling to scrupulous buyers who give them money instantly. Farmers are also forced to exchange 2kg of sugar to a bag of maize due to desperation and the need for food
What kind of business is this practiced by these cattle buyers, should the government intervene, what do you think, lets discuss.
GMB, TNB and DMB always have problems with our farmers, i guess its high time the managing system of these boards is revolutionalised. gvnt staunch supporters must pave a way for better staff so that farmers can enjoy farming and its outputs. this is caz corruption is rife there
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