The ManicaPost
Luthando Mapepa Chipinge Correspondent
VICE-PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has hailed the Johanne Marange Apostolic Church for embracing Government’s Command Agriculture programme.
Addressing thousands who braved the showery weather last Thursday at Taguta Farm which is owned by members of the Johanne Marange Apostolic Church in Chipinge Central, VP Mnangangwa said the apostolic sect was playing a leading role each and every season in ensuring food security despite some challenges.
VP Mnangagwa assured the church members of more funding in future.
“The Johanne Marange Church is playing a major role in ensuring that the country embraces Command Agriculture.
The church has defied all prophets of doom who wanted to see this programme failing since it failed in other countries.
“What we are witnessing here today at Taguta Farm is commendable and I plead with other churches to follow suit.
“We have moved around other provinces and this farm (Taguta Farm) has proved to be one of the best. We are now giving the Taguta family two more tractors and a planter to keep expanding their production,” he said.
VP Mnagagwa said credit should be given to President Mugabe who is the brains behind Command Agriculture which is now a success.
“Some people are crediting me saying that it is my programme, but I am only a messenger. The President sent me to do a job and I did it with enthusiasm like any other job he has sent me to do,” he added.
The farm manager, Mr Oscar Taguta, said although they faced challenges of the fall armyworm, they were expecting a bumper harvest.
He said the farm is a 251-hectare farm and they used a total of 115 hectares for the Command Agriculture project, 100ha were under dry land and 15ha were under irrigation.
“We managed to control armyworms by using pest control chemicals and this will not stop us from having a bumper harvest.
We are appealing for more equipment for us to produce more.
“We will avail 200ha for the winter wheat Command Agriculture programme.
As Johanne Marange Church we are very proud to be associated with Government programmes,” he said.
VP Mnangagwa was accompanied by Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs, Cde Mandi Chimene, Air Marshall Perrence Shiri, Chipinge East Member of National Assembly, Dr Win Mlambo, Chipinge South Member of National Assembly, Cde Enock Porusingazi, Buhera South Member of National Assembly, Cde Jospeh Chinotimba, and Chief Mutema among a host of Joint Operation Command members, senior Government officials, traditional
