The Sunday Mail
Theseus Shambare
Over 10 000 tonnes of maize seed and 50 000 tonnes of fertiliser have been distributed under the Pfumvudza/Intwasa scheme, with the authorities assuring farmers that they will get sufficient inputs before the beginning of the rainy season.
The bulk of the inputs is being held at Grain Marketing Board (GMB) depots countrywide.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail, deputy director for crops and research in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Ms Rutendo Nhongonhema, said logistical challenges had affected the movement of inputs from GMB depots to farmers, but this was being addressed.
“Inputs are in place and we have been facing challenges in transporting them to farmers. However, we have made great strides in coming up with a solution. We are excited that we have successfully sourced transport from our security services, who are offering their trucks to speed up the process. We are trying our best to ensure that farmers get inputs on time,” she said.
Timely distribution of inputs, Ms Nhongonhema said, was key for a successful cropping season.
“Farmers will receive 20 000 tonnes of maize seed, while fertiliser and lime requirements are set at 150 000 tonnes. Other seeds to be delivered are 5 966 tonnes of sorghum, 2 026 tonnes of pearl millet, 1 195 tonnes of sunflower, 2 658 tonnes of groundnuts, 1 215 tonnes of sugar beans and 907 tonnes of cowpeas,” she added.
This year, farmers are expected to put two million hectares under maize, 380 000 ha under sorghum, 250 000 ha under pearl millet and 25 000 ha under finger millet.
Zimbabwe Farmers Union executive director, Mr Paul Zakariya, said farmers welcome Government’s efforts to timely distribute inputs.
“Timely distribution of inputs is a recipe for a good cropping season, and it will be left to the farmers to do their part. We urge farmers to stick to good agronomic practices so that we achieve the set target or surpass it,” said Mr Zakariya.
Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services acting director for training and information, Mrs Nester Gumbo, recently revealed that this year, Government will distribute inputs according to farmers’ agro-ecological regions.
Input distribution committees in every ward have been set up to curb corruption.
The Agriculture Marketing Authority has similarly developed a national database that ensures traceable progress and numbers in real time for transparency.
More than three million farmers have registered for the conservation agriculture scheme, with at least two million having undergone training to date.
