Relief for cotton farmers

THE Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development and the District Development Fund (DDF) have embarked on a road rehabilitation project in Gokwe to ensure the smooth delivery of cotton to different depots.

Most roads in Gokwe were damaged by Cyclone Dineo, which ripped through the country early last year.

The poor road network has resulted in the district lagging behind in terms of development.

Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs Owen Ncube said Government was keen to assist cotton farmers access markets.

“The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development and DDF have started rehabilitating roads that were damaged by Cyclone Dineo last year,” he said.

“We want to make sure that there is good road network for cotton farmers so that they don’t face any delays when transporting their produce to the markets.”

Minister Ncube said Gokwe Town Council recently received $300 000 from Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) for road rehabilitation.

“The rehabilitation has been going on smoothly and we are confident the work will be finished before harvest time,” said Minister Ncube.

He said some of the roads were almost complete, ahead of the cotton harvesting season.

“Gokwe North farmers usually deliver their produce at Manoti in Gokwe and the road connecting Gokwe North and Manoti and the one from Gokwe South and Nembudziya have been done,” said Minister Ncube.

This season, about 400 000 farmers benefited from the Presidential Agriculture Inputs Support Scheme spearheaded by Cottco, with each household entitled to an input package of one hectare.