Govt introduces inputs stop order facility

Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Joseph Made yesterday said farmers can access the inputs at GMB depots with immediate effect.
The export ban, according to Minister Made, would avert a possible agricultural disaster after it emerged that Zimbabwe did not have enough fertilisers stocks. The recently introduced input schemes – US$30 million swap, US$45 million and US$56,2 million – have been combined to allow for a faster and efficient input disbursement.
The move follows Government’s realisation that the season is halfway through while farmers have not received inputs. Addressing journalists in Harare yesterday, Minister Made urged farmers to visit the GMB with their identification particulars, offer letters and/or permits to access inputs. “All farmers wishing to access inputs should go to the GMB. GMB will disburse the inputs it is holding with immediate effect. There should be no delays.”
He said Government had ordered GMB to open stop orders for individual farmers.
“There is no need for Agritex officers to bear witness to farmers’ applications.” Farmers would pay for the inputs after selling their produce.
This is the mechanism used worldwide to assist in securing national food security. Minister Made said the inputs will be accessed on a subsidised price of US$15 per 10kg pocket of maize seed and US$15 per 50kg of either basal or top dressing fertiliser.
He said the GMB would immediately provide fertilisers for US$15 under the US$30 million swap scheme. Farmers who had already taken delivery of their fertilisers at US$30 under the scheme, Minister Made said, would need to approach GMB and credit their funds.
The Government will subsidise the fertilisers. Minister Made said Government will pay input suppliers through funds generated from the agro-bills facility.
He said communal farmers would get a maximum of 25kgs of seed, four bags of basal fertiliser and two bags of top dressing.
Small scale, A1 and old resettlement farmers will get 50kgs of seed, 400kgs of basal fertiliser and 200kgs of top dressing while A2 farmers will access inputs enough to cover 100ha.