The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure Senior Reporter—
THE Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs, Cde Mandi Chimene, has cited late inputs distribution, long distances being travelled by beneficiaries to collect them and limping tillage programme as major challenges choking the smooth of command agriculture in the province.Cde Chimene told The Manica Post on Wednesday that some farmers were failing to plant on time as they were having challenges to access inputs and tillage services.
There has been outcry from over 900 farmers contracted to produce the dryland maize crop over delays in the distribution of inputs.
The farmers, most of whom are from marginalised areas – are resource poor and arguing that they had received little support and their plight seldom touches anybody.
These farmers rarely have the financial resources to buy their own inputs and were worried that the rains had come before the anticipated inputs. Concerns also abound that the available inputs were being distributed according to priority lists comprising of chefs.
“We have challenges of late inputs distribution; the system was not good enough. It is taking long for farmers to access their allocation of inputs. The farmers are also travelling very long distances to get the inputs and this is eating away the time they should be in the fields working.
“Worrisome again is that fact that we have four tractors from DDF. The tractors are not in good condition, yet they are expected to provide tillage service for the entire province. A tractor tills one hectare, and the next hour it is being repaired. The fuel is coming in trickles, forcing farmers to use their personal resources to enhance operations,” said Cde Chimene.
Cde Mandi Chimene
Provincial Agritex Officer, Mr Godfrey Mamhare, said about 30 000 hectares of various crops had been planted since the beginning of the rainy season.
He said the planted area was expected to increase following steady rains received in almost every part of the province which is ideal for planting and distribution of more inputs to dryland producers under command agriculture.
Maize constitute the bulky of the planted area at 11 000ha, including that planted under command agriculture.
Mhunga, which is largely grown in Buhera and Mutare districts is at 4 675ha, tobacco 3 367.8ha, sorghum 3 288ha, bambara nuts 2 160.7ha, ground nuts 2 037ha, cowpeas 89.4ha, beans 78.3ha, cotton 136.5ha and a hectare of soya beans.
Mr Mamhare assured farmers that they would get their allocations as soon as they arrive.
“We started distributing dryland inputs in the last two weeks, especially seed maize and Ammonium Nitrate and little stocks of Compound D. The inputs are coming, but not all at once, such that we cannot satisfy the needs of all farmers at once. We have said all those farmers with 40ha and above, who happen to those chefs those people are talking about, can collect their inputs directly from Harare if they have capacity.
“Farmers with less than 40ha are collecting inputs from the districts, and it’s not true that there is bias towards some chefs. We are not distributing inputs according to priority lists comprising of chefs as alleged. What we have are distribution lists that are prepared and signed for before collection of inputs by all farmers,” said Mr Mamhare.
Mr Mamhare also warned that those who abuse command agriculture inputs would be arrested.
His comments follow the arrest two farmers, Stanley Sakupwanya Jr and Godfrey Gwanyangwanya in Makoni over alleged abuse of the inputs.
“Farmers should not abuse inputs, but use them for maize production and not sell them for whatever purpose. The two were arrested in Makoni, and if they continue, they will be arrested. There is going to be a very strong monitoring, and it is a matter of time before we knock on each beneficiary’s door,” said Mr Mamhare.
