Online Reporter
Theseus Shambare
The GOVERNMENT has taken a firm stance against the theft of subsidised fertiliser and the sale of counterfeit seeds, warning that offenders will face jail time as the country intensifies efforts under the Presidential Pfumvudza/Intwasa Input Scheme.
During a visit to Marirangwe High School in Ward 14, Bikita District on Tuesday, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Professor Obert Jiri, urged farmers to plant immediately to capitalise on the current rainfall window while remaining vigilant against exploitation.
“Time is critical. Plant now, protect your inputs and let us all work together to ensure a productive Pfumvudza season.
“If someone steals a bag of fertiliser meant for Pfumvudza, they are stealing from the President. That is the worst crime,” Prof Jiri said.
He emphasised that anyone caught tampering with government inputs should be jailed without bail until after the harvest.
The Pfumvudza/Intwasa scheme provides vulnerable smallholder farmers with subsidised fertiliser and seeds to boost productivity during the planting season.
Officials say theft and distribution of fake seeds undermine the programme’s objectives, putting both livelihoods and national food security at risk.
Prof Jiri called on communities to take an active role in protecting the scheme.
“Every farmer must be vigilant. Protect the inputs you receive. Do not allow unscrupulous individuals to sabotage your efforts or the President’s programme,” he said.
Authorities warned that past instances of input theft had led to reduced yields, leaving households vulnerable.
By enforcing strict measures, including accountability before and after harvest, the Ministry aims to create a culture of responsibility and deter criminal activity surrounding agricultural inputs.
Farmers who attended the briefing welcomed the government’s tough approach, saying it sent a clear signal that abuse of Pfumvudza resources would not be tolerated.
Many noted that knowing the consequences for theft and fraud would help ensure that inputs reach the intended beneficiaries.
