Government avails transport for Pfumvudza inputs
THE Grain Marketing Board (GMB) is enlisting the services of private transporters to fast-track the movement of Pfumvudza inputs from its depots to the various collection points dotted across the country as Government moves with speed to ensure that farmers plant with the first rains.
GMB trucks and rail wagons have already been dispatched while private transporters with five tonne to 34 tonne trucks have been invited to come on board and facilitate the smooth movement of agricultural inputs to the farmers’ doorsteps.
Government is distributing maize seed, fertiliser, chemicals, traditional grain seeds and vegetable seeds to at least 3,5 million beneficiaries across the country ahead of the 2022/23 farming season.
Manicaland will have a total of 461 573 beneficiaries.
Last week, GMB chief executive officer, Mr Rockie Mutenha said 4 768 metric tonnes of Compound D, 774 metric tonnes of top-dressing fertilisers, 608 metric tonnes of maize seed and 63 metric tonnes of traditional grain seeds had been delivered to Manicaland.
The total inputs package for Manicaland comprise of 24 150 metric tonnes of Compound D and top dressing fertiliser, 2 469mt of maize seed, 314mt of traditional grains and 483 000 combo packs of vegetable seed.
Should all the 461 573 farmers plant accordingly, this will translate to a combined 738 516 hectares for maize, traditional grains, legumes and cotton in Manicaland.
Allocation of inputs this season is based on an online database to ensure that the inputs subsidy scheme is not hijaked by corrupt elements.
Mr Mutenha said the Pfumvudza inputs should have been moved to provinces by the end of November so that farmers can get a full basket of inputs, plant with the early rains and focus on production.
“Scheduled delivery time is November to mid-December. The inputs are being ferried using GMB owned trucks and third party contracted transporters. GMB uses its own fleet to carry the inputs and contracts other transporters to close any gaps.
Mr Mutenha reiterated that farmers are not supposed to pay for the transportation of Pfumvudza inputs as it is the responsibility of Government, through the grain utility, to ensure that inputs are delivered at the farmers’ doorsteps.
He said those bent on manipulating the system and coercing farmers into paying will be arrested and prosecuted.
“Farmers are not supposed to pay for transportation of Pfumvudza inputs, hence no individual should contribute towards that. Anyone who manipulates the systems will be reported to law enforcement agents for recourse,” he said.
Manicaland Agriculture Advisory and Rural Development Services (AARDS) acting director, Mrs Phillipa Rwambiwa said farmers are being allocated a full basket of inputs.
Mrs Rwambiwa said this distribution model is an improvement from past cases in which a beneficiary would either receive the inputs in drips and drabs or fail to get the whole package, thereby compromising chances of better yields.
She also urged non-irrigating farmers not to rush to plant, but to take advantage of the current wet spell to pace up land preparations.
Manicaland started receiving light showers last week.The rains received so far have not yet sufficiently recharged soil moisture to sustain germination.