Zimbabwe: Delta Beverages is contracting farmers to produce 40 000 tonnes of malting barley

Zimbabwe’s Delta Beverages is contracting farmers to produce 40 000 tonnes of malting barley this winter farming season, at a cost of over $30 billion.

This is about the annual requirements needed by the company for beer production. Stock holding levels and performance of the export and domestic markets determine the amount of barley contracted. Delta has run a contract scheme for barley since the mid-1970s and a malt house was built in Kwekwe to process the barley into malt.

Mr George Mutendadzamera,Delta General Manager, said on April 18 that the company had developed sufficient capacity in the schemes to meet its requirements for both domestic and export markets. The scheme's success hinged on an active crop breeding and research programme that ensured barley varieties that were no longer performing to expectation were replaced by better varieties from time to time. "Extension service support through our agronomists which ensure good crop husbandry practices, assist in making the scheme run efficiently.

"The extension service sup port is also a consultancy service for any special agronomic problems that arise from season to season," Mr Mutendadzamera said.

Delta supports farmers through assistance in acquisition of inputs. However, ordinarily farmers look for financial loans from banks. The company increased production from 35 000 tonnes last year to 40 000 tonnes this year and has been recruiting new producers countrywide. To qualify under the Delta contract scheme, farmers should have a reliable irrigation infrastructure and proof of land ownership. "We already have a base of loyal farmers we have done business with over the years and they will cater for most of our requirements. Our agronomists went round the farms between December and March recruiting new farmers. Some of the factors used in selection of new contract farmers include irrigable capacity existing and potential; farm management skills; suitability of equipment and a good track record in farming," he said

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