HARARE: Persistent power shortages are costing the Zimbabwean economy an average US$5 million monthly in lost agricultural production, an official revealed on Friday.Permanent secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Ringson Chitsiko is quoted by business news agency The Source as telling a farmers meeting in Harare that Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector is collectively losing about US$5 million per month due to power shortages.
He said the power shortages, which have seen many towns and cities around the southern African country experiencing rolling blackouts, have forced many farmers to abandon the production of strategic crops such as wheat.
He is quoted as saying that the country is only able to produce 12 percent of annual wheat demand of 450,000 tonnes, with the remainder being met through imports of unprocessed wheat and wheat flour.
Zimbabwe is battling to plug a huge energy deficit due to limited investment in the capital intensive energy sector.
The country requires about 2,200 megawatts daily, but currently generates only 1,300MW resulting in rolling power cuts that have hit hard on agriculture, manufacturing and mining sectors.
