500+ apply for command agric scheme
Traditional leaders raise villagers’ ire
OVER 500 farmers have applied to participate in the Command Agriculture Scheme, and Government is assessing their capacity to produce at least 1 000 tonnes of grain annually.
Assessors are mainly checking production and debt records to determine eligibility, and feedback to the farmers will be swift to ensure rapid resource deployment.
The US$500 million scheme is targeting 2 000 farmers who will be allocated land, seeds, fertilisers, chemicals and irrigation equipment to produce food for the nation.
Outlining the three-year programme in July 2016, Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa said those with 100 hectares of land, large water bodies and a minimum of five years’ farming experience will be considered when the final list is compiled.
Each farmer is supposed to produce at least 1 000 tonnes of grain, with 400 000 hectares earmarked for the scheme, guaranteeing two million tonnes annually. Participants will retain the surplus.
In an interview with our Harare Bureau, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Deputy Minister Davis Marapira said the scheme will transform Zimbabwe’s agriculture.
“We are in the process of identifying 2 000 productive farmers who can help us feed the nation by producing more than two million metric tonnes of cereals under the 400 000 hectares.
“More than 500 farmers across the country have visited the Ministry of Agriculture and Agritex offices to be considered.
“Those who are going to make it onto the final list will carry the burden of more than 14 million people on their shoulders. So, there is no room for mistakes in executing their duties of producing over two million tonnes per year.”
Cde Marapira went on: “We don’t only want productive farmers, but straightforward farmers with a track record and who can only sell their crop to the Grain Marketing Board, nowhere else.
“In this programme, we don’t tolerate any sidemarketing. You can be a very good farmer, but if you sell your cereals somewhere else, we will certainly disqualify you. We only accommodate professional farmers with good ethics, people who can religiously follow their contract obligations.”
The Deputy Minister said Cabinet has tasked the Ministries of Agriculture, Lands and Rural Resettlement and that of Environment, Water and Climate to identify farmers and water sources, adding that “another group of farmers is setting up irrigation equipment just in case targeted producers fail to qualify for the scheme”.
“We are not leaving anyone (out of) the irrigation scheme, but we are helping each farmer according to the available water bodies, farm sizes and the ability of each farmer. We are constructing big, medium and small dams for our farmers.
“In Mwenezi, we have set up a big dam and more large dams have been constructed along Mazowe River. One of the biggest dams in Mashonaland Central is situated in Bindura.
“In addition, we are drilling boreholes in rural areas to make sure folks there do drip irrigation to feed their families and communities.” TRADITIONAL leaders in Umzingwane District, Matabeleland South Province have courted the ire of villagers for allegedly selling pieces of land for $25, a development which has led to shortage of grazing pastures.
Villagers in Mlomoliwoto accused their area leader, village head Eliot Moyo of conniving with Chief Stanley Gwebu to sell land to people who are not from the area. Some of the beneficiaries are said to come from as Botswana and Plumtree.
In an interview with Sunday News, some of the villagers said village head Moyo was charging for the land and pocketing the money.
“I am not speaking from hearsay but from experience. I personally bought land from the village head (Moyo) whom I gave $25. We have been seeing more people coming and being allocated land,” said a villager who declined to be named.
Another villager who only identified himself as Mr Ncube said they have received reports of people buying land from the village head.
“It is true that the village head is selling stands although he tells the newcomers not to disclose such information but after staying for sometime, they reveal that they bought the stands for $25,” said Mr Ncube.
Furious villagers said most people who were allocated land were from Botswana, Plumtree and Chivhu while locals were struggling to get land.
“I have been pleading for a stand for my son for the past four years, what pains me is that I see people who are not originally from our village getting stands, which clearly shows that money is at work,” another villager.
Another villager who also declined to be named fearing victimisation said: “If only the money he was getting was being used to develop our schools it could have been better but he uses the money for his own personal gain.”
However, headman Moyo said those who were spreading the “rumours” were his enemies.
“The villagers are only ganging up to bring me down, this is pure hatred and I cannot be voted out as my position is hereditary. I report my work to Chief Stanly Gwebu.
“These people do not know what they are saying, they are the same people who asked us to render land to their children who are now old enough to start their own homes,” said headman Moyo.
Chief Gwebu also refuted the allegations and said as far as he was concerned the people who were given stands were from the village.
“I have heard the grievances of the villagers and I will look into it. As for the close relationship with my village head how can I not work closely with him since he is my eyes and ears,” said the chief.