馃嚳馃嚰ZimbabweSouthern Africa
High fuel prices threaten agricultural output, warns Zimbabwe Farmers Union
via NewsDay Zimbabwe5 min read
The Zimbabwe Farmers Union ZFU has expressed concern that rising fuel prices are negatively impacting agricultural productivity, especially for winter wheat farmers who are currently planting. The ZFU noted that the cost of fuel affects all stages of production, from land preparation and irrigation to harvesting and transportation. According to the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory, diesel is priced at USD $2.09 per liter and petrol at USD $2.08 per liter. The union highlighted that before the latest fuel price review on April 17, 2026, wheat farmers required at least 115 liters of fuel per hectare, now costing approximately US$242.65 per hectare, an increase from about US$174.80 in the previous season. The ZFU stated that the mismatch between increasing production costs and stagnant selling prices could lead to losses for farmers, making wheat cultivation less profitable. The union warned that this trend could negatively affect national wheat output and urged farmers to reassess their cost structures and adopt more fuel-efficient farming methods.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by NewsDay Zimbabwe.
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