The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure Senior Farming Reporter —
THE tone for the 2016/17 agricultural season that has been set by Government and its various partners has been met with more enthusiasm by farmers unions that are now calling on farmers to shift their mentality from the current self-enrichment to provide the nation with sustainable food security.
Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union national president Mr Abdul Credit Nyathi on Wednesday said preparations were well on course in all parts of the country.
“Government has demonstrated its commitment to make the 2016/17 agricultural season a successful one by availing inputs under the two schemes of command agriculture and Presidential Well-Wishers Inputs Scheme, which covers A1 and communal farmers, on time unlike in past seasons. The two schemes have taken everyone on board and no one will cry foul.
“Preparations are well on course and inputs are already on the ground. We now call upon farmers to reciprocate the gesture extended to them by government by pouring their sweat, tears and blood tilling the land with a clear objective to provide the nation with sustainable food security,” said Mr Nyathi.
Government is targeting 400 000 hectares under the command agriculture programme, in which identified farmers will be given inputs, which they will pay back by giving Government five tonnes per hectare and retain any surplus. The Presidential Well-Wishers Input Scheme is catering for up to 1, 4 million small holder farmers.
The scheme is meant to ensure food security at household level. Furthermore Government will support cotton farmers with inputs to cultivate 250 000ha. Grain marketing Board depots across the country have started receiving farming inputs under the two schemes ahead of the 2016\17 farming season.
The Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development (cropping) Cde Davis Marapira, also said Government was satisfied by the level of commitment exuded by farmers.
“We have already started moving farming inputs to GMB depots in the country and all the preparations are going on well. The inputs distribution will be done through various schemes, including the Presidential Inputs Scheme which will also assist a total of 600 families with cotton inputs. Under the Presidential scheme, communal farmers will receive one bag of seed maize and one bag of fertilizer,” said Cde Marapira.
Mr Nyathi rallied his troops saying they naturally have a responsibility to the nation.
“Farmers are naturally expected to produce enough to feed the nation. We do not want charlatans. Farmers should have the correct mentality, not self-enrichment, but one to provide the nation with sustainable food security.
“There are some who still have to undergo mental transformation so that they can view farming as a business that must be undertaken with an unqualified responsibility to feed the nation. Government has come up with various initiatives — seed, fertilisers, chemicals and machinery — to assist farmers and boost production.No one should complain because everything is at their door-step before the start of the season,” said Mr Nyathi.
Mr Nyathi said a lot has been done to plug loopholes which have seen various Government initiatives failing dismally as the farmers chose to line their pockets instead of their responsibility to feed the nation.
“This should be the best ever season. The ball is in our court as farmers. Farmers need to be honest. They should be responsible and trustworthy by using the inputs for the intended purpose and we will be monitoring and evaluating progress, holding all the bad apples to account in the process,” said Mr Nyathi.
The Meteorological Services Department has forecasted normal to above normal rains across the country this season with significant rains expected as early as mid-October.
