Pay for Command inputs, says expert
FARMERS here have been challenged to pay for agricultural inputs they received from Government under the Command Agriculture Scheme for the programme to continue benefiting them in the future.
Zaka District agricultural extension officer Mr Kennedy Pedzisai said Command Agriculture has boosted food security in the arid district, but warned beneficiaries against defaulting on loan repayments.
Addressing scores of farmers and ordinary villagers during a field day at Mr Nyasha Gavaza’s farm in Zaka on Wednesday, Mr Pedzisai said those who do not pay back the money for inputs that they received under the programme, risked being blacklisted.
He said Government was compiling a nationwide list of beneficiaries who defaulted on payments for inputs they received under Command Agriculture.
“The Command Agriculture initiative is meant to assist farmers to increase yields, but the support is given as a loan to a farmer that must be paid back so that the initiative continues to run and expand to cover more beneficiaries,” said Mr Pedzisai.
He said those who default on repaying the loans would be dealt with according to the laws of the country.
“Government is working with agricultural extension officers in making sure that all farmers who failed to pay back their loans will be dealt,” he said.
Mr Pedzisai said Government was committed to revitalise the country’s agricultural sector through various other initiatives such as Command Livestock, Command Fisheries, Command Poultry Schemes among others.
The schemes were being rolled out through the relevant Government ministries.
He warned farmers against selling inputs availed by Government under the various loan schemes saying the culprits would face the full wrath of the law.
“Another aspect we are deeply worried about is the selling of inputs by some beneficiaries especially those who benefit under government programmes like Command Agriculture and the Presidential Inputs Support Scheme.
“Selling such inputs is a very serious offence and the culprits will be jailed,” said Mr Pedzisai.
“Let us desist from the serious disease of sabotaging Government programmes, which are aimed at growing our economy and restore the glorious old days when Zimbabwe was a regional agricultural giant.”
Household food security has improved in Zaka on the back of increasing yields thanks to Government support to both small-scale and communal farmers through programmes such as Command Agriculture.