The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
THERE is low uptake of the CBZ Agro-Yield Programme, famously known as the Command Agriculture programme, as farmers are struggling to fulfil stringent conditions imposed by the bank as the defaulting rate repayment of loans had ballooned, The Manica Post has established.
Under the new conditions, farmers are required to submit Government-signed joint ventures (JVs), permits or 99-year-leases.
The uptake has declined as some defaulters were dropped after failing to service about 80 percent of the loans advanced to them last season.
For example, Makoni District, which last season had over 409 A2 farmers contracted to grow maize under the programme, has 109 contracted to date, with the rest failing to meet conditions set by the bank.
This emerged during a developmental meeting convened by the Zanu PF Makoni District Coordinating Committee (DCC) in Rusape last week.
The meeting was made up of heads of Government departments, parastatals and local authorities, and party structures to look into progress made on the agricultural programmes sponsored by Government, among others.
Party representatives from Nyanga, Mutasa, Chipinge and Mutare districts were also in attendance, and it was emphasised during the meeting that Agritex extension officers, traditional leaders and party leadership should work together to ensure that these Government sponsored programmes swiftly benefit the intended beneficiaries.
Provincial Agritex Extension Officer, Mrs Phillipah Rwambiwa told The Manica Post last week that AFC Bank was also coming on board to contract farmers to grow maize, but those who were blacklisted by CBZ over non-repayment of loans will not be considered as the two banks’ operations will be synchronised.
The two banks are involved in weekly meetings by Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development.
“These are the conditions being implemented by the bank (CBZ) because the defaulting rate was too high. A farmer would approach the bank with an affidavit indicating that he or she is leasing Farm X, after year, a different person will approach the same bank with a signed affidavit indicating that they are leasing that same piece of land.
“When the previous leasees of that piece of land defaults paying their loans, it gives the bank a torrid challenge to locate and make them pay.
This is why they are insisting on Government-approved JVs, 99-year lease or permit which proves that the farmer is of fixed abode. It is intended to make debt recovery convenient because there are a number of farmers who have not delivered anything to the GMB, and some of them do not have nothing to show for the plots referred to in their affidavits.
“Defaulters will not be considered this year unless they pay 80 percent of what they owe because this is a revolving fund. Farmers should pay back loans to enable the bank to acquire more inputs for this season.
They should repay 80 percent of their previous loans to be considered.
“Another bank, AFC will be contracting farmers to grow maize, making them two, but their operations will be synchronised. The banks are represented in our meetings to ensure that those who were blacklisted by CBZ are not considered,” said Mrs Rwambiwa.
It emerged during the Rusape meeting that GMB has transport challenges to ferry both farming inputs and drought relief to many parts of the province as transporters are shunning its low rates.
Zanu PF Makoni DCC chairman, Cde Albert Nyakuedzwa said transporters were arguing that they were being paid in local currency when they were accessing fuel and mechanical services in foreign currency.
“We are appealing to Treasury to pay GMB, and ensure that transporters are assisted with fuel to accelerate the transportation of farming inputs and drought relief food,” he said.
Cde Nyakuedzwa also bemoaned the tough conditions imposed by banks on the Command Agriculture, saying this will likely slash both the membership as well as the area planted.
“Only 109 of the 409 A2 farmers in the district have been contracted, the challenge being the standards set by banks. Previously family members had the option to use a relative’s field, through the use of affidavits, which the banks have stopped due to debt recovery challenges.
“From the feedback we got this must be looked into as it may affect both the membership, planted area and yields for the 2021/22 season. Agritex is saying some farmers contracted under the programme last season have not delivered anything to the GMB, and together with the bank officials are moving around serving them with new debt recovery agreements,” said Cde Nyakuedzwa.
He said wheat farmers are battling to harvest their crop due to shortages of combine harvesters.
This raises fears that the cereal crop might be affected by rain.
Pfumvudza was this season scaled up to five plots, three are for cereals (maize, sorghum, pearl millet) and the other two are for oilseeds like groundnuts, soya or castor bean.
Each plot measures 39x16m — and farmers should produce a least tonne per plot. Apart from up-scaling the programme to five plots, the programme will this season include cotton, targeted at farmers in extremely dry areas in Nyanga, Chipinge, Buhera, Makoni and Mutare districts.
The programme is targeting 345 000 households in Manicaland.
The Pfumvudza programme involves soil reconditioning blitz, which gives the farmer information on nutrient status of their soils along with recommendation on appropriate dosage of nutrients required to improve its health and fertility.
