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Conrad Mupesa-Mashonaland West Bureau
Local company Valley Seeds has donated over 70 motorcycles to the Department of Veterinary Services in Mashonaland West province as part of the company’s support towards climate-proofed agriculture, Pfumvudza/Intwasa scheme.
The donation is a major boost to the department which has 148 officers.
Fertiliser Seed and Grain (Superfert) has also pledged 3 000 bikes towards the same cause.
The two are rallying behind the CBZ-Agroyield Command Agriculture, Pfumvudza /Intwasa and Presidential Cotton Input schemes with seeds and fertilisers.
Delivering the first batch of 33 bikes yesterday, the company’s commercial business manager, Mr Tichaona Maponga said they responded to President Mnangagwa’s call for companies to help mechanise agriculture.
“This is a programme which was initiated by His Excellency President Mnangagwa at national level last year and we saw it fit to deliver the bikes at the provincial level.
“As Valley Seeds, we are expecting to hand over 2 500 motorbikes countrywide which are to be delivered to Agritex and the Veterinary Services Department for the officers’ mobility so that they serve their areas effectively with outbreaks of animal diseases being attended to in time.
“We have an allocation of 70 bikes for veterinary services officers in the province and we are delivering 33 bikes today (Tuesday) while the remainder will be availed soon.
“Our response as a company to the President’s call aims at alleviating mobility challenges faced by extension officers,” he said.
Mr Maponga said the donation would remove the burden on farmers who were forced to foot the transport bills of officers.
Accepting the bikes on behalf of the Government, Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Mary Mliswa-Chikoka said the bikes were going to improve early detection of livestock diseases.
“Undoubtedly, the 33 motorbikes will go a long way in uplifting and supporting our farmers which will contribute to the turnaround of the provincial GDP” she said.
She warned beneficiaries to guard jealously the motorbikes and discouraged them from misusing them.
The 33 beneficiaries include 13 women.
Mr Emmanuel Shumba (53) from Hurungwe district said: “I cover six centres with at least 24 dip tanks and this allocation will go a long way in ensuring that every centre and every dip tank is visited. We urge our Government to disburse fuel in time so that we attend to challenges.”
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter