Africa-Press. HARARE, Apr. 24 (NewsDay) – The Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) has raised alarm over rising fuel prices, warning that recent increases are beginning to undermine agricultural productivity, particularly for winter wheat farmers currently in the middle of the planting season.
According to the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory diesel is pegged at USD $2.09 while petrol is USD $2.08 per litre.
In an opinion piece shared on its social media platforms, the union said the cost of fuel now affects every stage of production from land preparation and irrigation to harvesting and transportation.
“High fuel costs undermine farm productivity, especially for mechanised and irrigated crops,” ZFU said.
“Rising fuel costs are slowing mechanisation, which in turn makes land preparation less efficient, ultimately delaying planting schedules. This will hit hard on winter wheat farmers who are currently planting the crop.”
The union provided figures to illustrate the impact, noting that before the latest fuel price review on April 17, 2026, farmers required at least 115 litres of fuel per hectare for wheat production. This now translates to approximately US$242.65 per hectare, up from about US$174.80 recorded in the previous season.
“It is no longer lucrative to grow wheat as budgets are reflecting a decrease in income after harvests,” ZFU said.
According to the union, the mismatch between escalating production costs and static selling prices exposes farmers to potential losses.
“For farmers it means production assumptions and budgets no longer hold, and to make matters worse, producer prices rarely adjust at the same speed,” the statement reads.
ZFU warned that if the trend continues, it could negatively affect national wheat output.
The union urged farmers to urgently review their cost structures in light of the new fuel prices and adopt more fuel-efficient and cost-effective farming methods to cushion themselves against the rising expenses.
