‘Double dipping’ farmers under fire

Blessings Chidakwa in Kadoma
Rogue small-scale and communal farmers in some parts of Mashonaland West are accessing inputs under the Presidential Inputs Support Scheme several times which is prejudicing other beneficiaries.

The unscrupulous farmers’ actions are threatening the successful implementation of the scheme.

The saboteurs, mostly in Sanyati district, are allegedly depriving other beneficiaries access to the free inputs with supplies already running low. Sanyati district crop and livestock production officer Mrs Evelyn Ndoro disclosed the vice during a meeting held at Sanyati Rural District Council recently.

“There are reports of farmers who are receiving Presidential inputs twice and that should cease henceforth. We are seized with the matter and those caught in the act will be brought to book,” she said.

Mrs Ndoro also indicated to councillors that it was their duty to mobilise transport for the distribution of inputs in their respective wards.

She emphasised that it was Government’s endeavour to ensure that farmers collected inputs at the most convenient places amid reports that some were being forced to travel long distances to access them.

Mrs Ndoro also reiterated that beneficiaries of cotton seed were entitled to receive other Presidential inputs packages.

“Beneficiaries are choosing either the maize seed or soya beans package. However, with cotton beneficiaries, it is a different scenario as they are entitled to benefit also from maize or soyabeans packages,” she said.

The cotton inputs package include among others, top dressing fertilisers, planting seed and chemicals enough to cover one hectare.

Mrs Ndoro said Sanyati depot has received fewer inputs and they were subsidising with those from Kadoma depot.

“Sanyati depot has less than three tonnes but Kadoma has almost 20 tonnes. We are moving some of the inputs from Kadoma to Sanyati depot,” she said.

Farmers accessing the Presidential inputs receive, for free, inputs to cover at least one hectare of either maize or soyabean seed.