Delivery of inputs to intensify

THE Government has increased measures to ensure inputs under the Presidential Inputs Scheme reach the intended beneficiaries.

Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Anxious Masuka revealed this while addressing farmers during the handover of 250 plots from Green Fuel to the Chinyamukwaka community over the weekend.

Minister Masuka said Government was going to check on the distribution of the Presidential inputs to ensure the seed, fertilisers and chemicals reached the intended beneficiaries.

“We are going to get two contacts per household and we will call to see if they received inputs.

“We have also roped in Members of Parliament to witness the movement of the inputs from the GMB depots until they are distributed to farmers. We do not want the inputs to be abused,” he said.

He said Government was also increasing movements of the inputs so they reach farmers on time, before the rains intensify.

On the issue of traditional grains, Minister Masuka said lack of knowledge on the suitable crops to grow was the major cause for food and nutrition insecurity as farmers pushed for maize production even those in agro- ecological region 4 and 5.

“Some farmers continue growing maize even if their area is suitable for traditional grains. Starting this season, we will not give maize to farmers in low rainfall areas but we will give them rapoko, millet, sorghum and other traditional crops that thrive under such conditions.

“Maize was never our indigenous crop. It only came during the 1960s. I urge you to grow the traditional grains as you can always get maize from the GMB. You will be able to swap your traditional grains with maize,” he said.

He said Government was increasing the area under irrigation to ensure food security and commended Green Fuel for distributing irrigated plots to the community.

Green Fuel resolved to develop 10 percent of all land under sugarcane farming for the benefit of the community in the form of irrigated plots.

The company has developed 25 percent of the targeted hectares.

On Saturday the first phase of the 250 plots with a total of 126,5ha were handed over to the households bringing the total to 1 460 plots under 1 713 community members who can produce crops throughout the year.

“The President recognises the strategic importance of irrigation development in the transformation of communities, in the process spurring rural industrialisation of attainment of Vision 2030. It is in this context that the Ministry developed the Accelerated Irrigation Rehabilitation and Development Plan where we have ambitious target to develop 350 000 hectares of irrigable land by 2025.

“Green Fuel has now developed 730ha of land under irrigation for the community with each household having 0,5ha. Today’s handover demonstrates the power and tangible results of the public and private sectors partnership or the transformation and development of the economy.

“We support and recognise the initiative taken by Green Fuel Pvt Ltd to support this community’s socio economic transformation agenda ,” he said.

Green Fuel will also provide expert advice apart from developing the irrigation scheme. The company has engaged an extension officer who will advise farmers and assist them in their activities.

Green Fuel managing director Mr Conrad Rautenbach said the company had a good relationship with the community.

“There were some disputes during the early stages and they were due to some miscommunications and maybe some were political. We work for our partners and with Government and ARDA. Green Fuel is in a joint venture with ARDA.

“ARDA provides the land and we provide the investments and technical expertise,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of State for Manicaland Nokuthula Matsikenyere, provincial coordinator, Mr Edgar Seenza commended Green Fuel for improving livelihoods of people in the Chinyamukwaka community.

“Green Fuel is contributing towards the growth of the GDP for the area and this will also see people improving their livelihoods,” he said.

A beneficiary of the plots, Mrs Sarah Mwanyadzeni of Rugare A Chinyamukwaka said she was glad that she was now able to produce crops under irrigation.

“I no longer have to worry about the rains. Now I can produce different crops throughout the year and improve household food and nutrition security,” she said.