The ManicaPost
Lovemore Kadzura
Rusape Correspondent
The lives of thousands of small-scale farmers is changing for good in Makoni District following Government’s move to provide inputs for them to take up wheat farming, which used to a preserve for large scale farmers.
The Second Republic is living up to its mantra of Leaving no one and no place behind as 30 000 small-scale framers have this year benefited from the Presidential Input Program.
They have received inputs such as seed, fertilizers and chemicals.
The inclusion of small-scale farmers will help Government to fight hunger at household level, improve nutrient security and make them graduate into commercial farming. Makoni District has a target of above 4 000 hectares and small-scale farmers are expected to make a significant contribution.
AFC bank, CBZ Agro Yield and some private players contract commercial farmers to produce wheat while some financially stable farmers fund their own production.
This had left small-scale farmers exposed, a gap that the Government has since covered.
Makoni District Agronomist, Mr Mahlupeko Chowafa said small-scale farmers are growing wheat on vleils (matoro) after being given inputs for 0,5 hectares.
He said those on irrigation schemes got inputs for up to 3ha.
“There is positive uptake of the Presidential Input Scheme inputs since last year. We have two categories of small-scale farmers. The small-scale farmers are given 50kgs seed and 150kg Compound D fertilizers. Then those on irrigation schemes are given 100kg of seed per hectare and 50kg fertilizers,” SAID Mr Chowafa.
“Most of them are doing very well despite it being their first time to plant wheat. We encourage them to do so because it helps them to practice crop rotation and all year round farming as opposed to summer agriculture only,” he said.
Headlands Small Scale Farmers president, Mr Innocent Magutakuona hailed the programme and urged the early disbursement of inputs.
He also said the home bakeries introduced by the ruling party ZANU PF are now fully functional as more people now have access to flour.
“The wheat program is a game changer to small-scale farmers. However, there is need to increase the hectarage so that the farmer is able to sell the surplus and keep some for consumption. We are encouraging farmers to have solar powered boreholes so that they irrigate their wheat easily,” said Mr Magutakuona.
