HARARE,  (NNN-NEW ZIANA) — The Zimbabwe government has revived the Agriculture Marketing Authority to ensure fairness in marketing of agricultural products, says Agriculture, Mechanization and Irrigation Development Minister Joseph Made.

He announced here Monday the re-establishment of the authority — originally established in 1967 and abolished in 1993 — as well as its new board, with Bankers Association of Zimbabwe president Dr John Mangudya as chairman.

Dr Made said the success of the land reform programme had necessitated the revival of the authority. “A need arose after the land reform to assist the new and existing farmers to regulate, supervise and help market agricultural products,? he added.

He said the authority would not control but would promote fairness and intervene to bring a balance between producers, the middleman and consumers. “The role of the AMA will be to come up with programmes and regulations that will result in an increase of export earnings as local products become competitive on the global market,” the minister said.

The authority would be expected to work closely with existing marketing institutions. Duties of the authority include investigating agricultural marketing conditions, promoting efficient administration in the marketing of any agricultural product and promotion of proper marketing and fair pricing of products.

Other members of the authority’s board include Small Grains Producers Association chairman Basil Nyabadza, Zimbabwe Farmers Union vice-president Bearen Mukwende, TIMB chairman Njodzi Machirori, legal practitioner Tawanda Chitapi, former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Deputy Governor Charles Chikaura, Stansalays Goredema, Nancy Zitsanza, former NOCZIM chief executive Zvinechimwe Churu and former Cottco boss Happymore Mapara.

Dr Mangudya said the authority would in the short term address the issue of resources whioch had hampered the effectiveness of farmers. “The farming community requires resources and within a short space of time we will look into that,” he said, adding that “with all the necessary support what we have set out to do can be achieved”.

Players in the agricultural industry, especially new farmers, had in the past been short changed by middleman when it came to marketing of their products.