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“The inputs came at the right time following good rains that we received in the district a few weeks ago,” Minister Mohadi said.
He urged the local traditional leadership to ensure that the inputs were distributed in an equitable manner. He also said the scheme was meant to benefit everybody regardless of one’s political affiliation. Four wards in the district under Beitbridge West Constituency have since benefitted from the scheme while 11 others are yet to benefit under the programme.
Yesterday officials from the Agricultural Extension Services (Agritex) distributed 1,5 tonnes of seed maize to villagers in Ward 10 while those in Ward 12 got 1,1 tonnes of the sorghum. Farmers in Ward 11 received 1,3 tonnes of maize seed. Each family was given 10kg of seed maize and 5kg of sorghum.
“The sorghum and seed maize will be distributed to the other wards as the scheme rolls to other parts of the district. We expect more inputs, which have been allocated to the district and these include 71 tonnes of ammonium nitrate fertiliser, nine tonnes of millet, six tonnes of peas, four tonnes of sugar beans and three tonnes of groundnuts, which are yet to be delivered,” Minister Mohadi said.
He said the Ministry of Finance failed to provide adequate funding to the agricultural sector prompting President Mugabe, who is the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, to chip in with assistance.
“As a leader with his people at heart, President Mugabe decided to source funds from our friends in China and India for the inputs hence the launching of the Presidential Inputs Scheme,” he said.
Four weeks ago President Mugabe launched the Presidential Well-Wishers Special Agricultural Inputs Scheme, which is set to benefit 800 000 households across the country.
Presidential spokesperson Cde George Charamba has said the scheme was introduced after realising that farmers were not receiving support from Govern-ment institutions such as the Grain Marketing Board and the National Budget. Also present during the launch were Member of Parliament for Beitbridge West, Mrs Metrine Mudau, Senator Tambudzani Mohadi, Zanu-PF Provincial vice chairperson for Matabeleland South, Cde Rabelani Choeni and local traditional leaders.
Online Reporter