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Harare Bureau
Every household in the rural areas will get inputs under the Presidential Inputs Scheme so that people take advantage of the current rains to plant their crops and ensure food security, President Mnangagwa has said.
He was speaking at a ceremony to honour First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa’s achievements held in Chiweshe yesterday.
“The rains are upon us, and I want to promise you that your Government is bringing seed through the Presidential Inputs Scheme. If it has not arrived, the Minister of Devolution and Provincial affairs should look into it, that is her job to make sure it gets to everyone. We will continue to make sure that we do that,” he said.
The Presidential Inputs Scheme anchors the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme adopted to address the problems of low productivity and low profitability in the agriculture sector which continue to affect food security.
This year, over three million households are expected to benefit from the scheme and the Government has released $20 billion to support the programme.
Under the programme, selected farmers receive a 50kg bag of compound D fertiliser, a 50kg bag of ammonium nitrate, a five kg bag of maize seed and in some instances two kg bag of small grain.
The Pfumvudza/ Intwasa programme aims to ensure farmers would get at least a tonne of maize from their plots, which would carry a family of six throughout the year.
Meanwhile, farmers have now planted more than 906 000 hectares of summer crops for the 2022/23 season with the bulk of the crops in good condition in most parts of the country.
Livestock has also been reported to be in good condition as grazing continue to improve in most areas as a result of the rains currently being received.
Farmers have intensified planning while some who had an early crop are weeding and applying fertilisers.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu