Praise Runyowa
Drought-stricken parts of the country that are facing severe food shortage owing to failed crops will soon receive additional food while programmes such as the grain loan scheme will be fine-tuned to meet the people’s needs, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Dr Joseph Made has said.

Dr Made disclosed that consultations between his ministry and the Ministry of Finance were under way as part of measures aimed at ensuring that the distribution of food runs smoothly.
“Cabinet has already directed us to channel food to drought-stricken areas and we are ready to carry out that task.

“What is left is for Finance Minister Mr Tendai Biti to release funds specifically for that programme.
“On the other hand we are also looking at having other programmes such as the grain loan scheme and the food-for-work programme being implemented in a manner that does not burden the intended beneficiaries,” he said.
Most farmers argue that they find it difficult to pay back the grain they would have accessed through the grain loan scheme and insist that the food-for-work programme is more ideal.

Dr Made said that apart from distributing food, the Government was also exploring ways of minimising the effects of drought.
“One such measure is the introduction of irrigation schemes,” he said.

“Farmers who depend on irrigation need uninterrupted power and we have been talking to the responsible authorities with a view to reaching an agreement that the farmers be spared from load-shedding.”

Dr Made added that Government needed to move with haste in rolling out its food distribution programme noting that some unscrupulous businesspeople were taking advantage of villagers living in drought-ravaged areas.
In Mberengwa, for instance, a 5kg bag of mealie meal, whose retail price is pegged at $6, is being sold for between $8 and $9.