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Elita Chikwati Agriculture Reporter
THE Presidential Well-wishers Input Scheme — which is targeting 1,6 million families countrywide — was set in motion at Gweshe Business Centre in Mashonaland Central Province yesterday where 600 families received inputs enough to plant at least 0,2 hectares of land apiece.
The scheme is in its sixth year running since 2008 when President Mugabe took it upon himself to help farmers with crop and livestock inputs following the collapse of financial schemes for smallholder and communal farmers owing to illegal economic sanctions imposed by the West.
Former Finance Minister Tendai Biti worsened the situation when he made it clear the inclusive Government would not help farmers.
Under the scheme this year, the input package for each household comprises 10 kilogrammes of maize seed, 50kg compound D, 50kg ammonium nitrate and 50kg lime.
Those in areas that traditionally receive low rainfall would get 5kg each of sorghum or millet seed.
Officially launching the programme yesterday, Minister of State for Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs Cde Martin Dinha thanked the people for overwhelmingly voting for Zanu-PF during the July 31 harmonised elections.
“It is good that you overwhelmingly voted for Zanu-PF during the elections and this is where such noble programmes come from.”
Minister Dinha said the inputs should be distributed fairly.
The inputs, he said, were not for political leaders, but for ordinary farmers to ensure food production.
Speaking at the same occasion, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development responsible for crops, mechanisation and irrigation, Cde David Marapira said the inputs would be distributed at ward level to ensure farmers do not travel long distances to collection centres.
He urged beneficiaries to put the inputs to good use.
“You should not sell the inputs,” Cde Marapira said.
“We are closely monitoring the beneficiaries and those who abuse the inputs will be brought to book. The inputs should cover 0,2 hectares and should not be spread over a large area as this will affect production.”
Cde Marapira said Agritex officers would follow up on the beneficiaries and assist with technical advice to boost yields.
Mazowe Central National Assembly member Cde Tabitha Kanengoni, who is also the Deputy Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture said time was ripe for leaders to deliver to the people who voted for them.
“We are no longer concentrating on speaking and making promises, but we are now delivering according to our promises,” she said.
“You voted for Zanu-PF, it is now delivering, but when you voted for the MDC-T it never delivered.”
Cde Kanengoni said the inputs would also be given to MDC-T supporters since Zanu-PF was a people’s party.
She expressed gratitude to Zambia and Malawi for assisting Zimbabwe with food.
“We have our friends, so we can do without Britain and America,” she said.
The global food crisis coming on the backdrop of worsening global warming has made it imperative for Zimbabwe to stop relying on food imports and produce adequately through such schemes as the Presidential Well-Wishers Input Scheme.
The 2012/13 scheme benefited 712 400 households countrywide after President Mugabe sourced US$27 million to purchase the inputs.
President Mugabe’s inputs support scheme has seen many people managing to grow their own food, thereby ensuring food security at household level.
Online Reporter