Farmers warned against selling inputs
GOVERNMENT has warned some farmers in Zaka that are reportedly selling farming inputs they received under the Presidential Inputs Support Scheme for the 2017-2018 agricultural season that they risk being arrested.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development (Cropping) Mr Davis Marapira alleged that the illegal selling of fertilisers and seed donated by Government has become rampant countrywide.
He challenged agriculture extension officers in Zaka to help sniff out those who are selling inputs on the black market.
“While the distribution of farming inputs to farmers across the country is progressing well, we are saddened by the latest development, where we have heard reports of some unscrupulous people who are now reselling the inputs,’’ said Deputy Minister Marapira.
‘’It is a very worrying development for the country because the Government invested millions of dollars to boost the agricultural sector and such anti- development people are trying to bring the country down,” he said.
Deputy Minister Marapira sounded a strong warning to those bent on undermining Government’s efforts to achieve food self-sufficiency.
“I want to give a very strong warning to those selling farming inputs that the long arm of the law will soon catch up with them.
“The perpetrators will face the full wrath of the law if they are caught. The law will descend on them.’’
Those who sell inputs, according to Deputy Minister Marapira, are not genuine farmers.
“I do not think that those people who are selling Presidential inputs are real farmers. I am appealing to all Agritex officers across the country to go on the ground and closely monitor the use of Presidential inputs availed to farmers . . . and make sure they put the inputs to good use,’’ he said.
‘’ The people who are selling inputs are the ones who will move around accusing Government of not doing anything to develop the country, yet they are busy selling farming inputs given to them for free. I am appealing to all Zimbabweans to alert the police whenever they see someone selling farming inputs in the street.”
About 1,8 million households are expected to receive farming inputs under the Presidential Inputs Support Scheme.
Meanwhile, Zaka villagers have ventured into commercial fish production with the assistance of a local non-governmental organisation, Christian Care, which has already financed construction of nearly 20 fish breeding ponds across the arid district.
The fisheries project is expected to make Zaka one of the biggest fish producers in Masvingo, while also generating income for villagers to sustain themselves. Zaka Central Member of Parliament Cde Paradzai Chakona hailed the fisheries project, which he said was targeting both youths and the elderly.
The fisheries project started last year and has been expanding to other parts of the district.