Zimbabwe's Commercial Farmers Union on Tuesday disputed government projections for a 2009 maize of 1.2 million metric tonnes, saying that the country will be lucky if it brings in 400,000 tonnes compared with a national requirement of 2.2 million tonnes. 

It said continued farm disruptions and input shortages have hurt agriculture nationwide. The 2009 maize harvest has been under way since March, peaking this month.

Commercial Farmers Union President Trevor Gifford told reporter Jonga Kandemiiri of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that most of the 400,000 tonnes his organization estimates the harvest will yield will be consumed locally and won’t reach the open market.

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