adminSunday Mail Reporter
Farmers are expecting a better harvest during the 2016/2017 summer cropping season given the command agriculture scheme and an improved rainy season. Thousands of farmers are accessing farming inputs from the command agriculture scheme which has a target of 400 000 hectares and an output of 2 million tonnes of cereal.The Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers’ Union (ZCFU) president Mr Wonder Chabikwa said with preparations for the farming season well on course, better harvests are expected.
“Command agriculture is in place and some farmers are accessing inputs under contract farming and therefore our hopes are high, this will certainly be a better season. “By any measure, 400 000 hectares is a lot and with inputs being provided, harvests will be better this farming season.
“Farmers are expecting to bounce back from last year’s El Nino induced drought which affected millions of people. This season, La Nina is expected to bring more rains,” said Mr Chabikwa.
He, however, bemoaned that not all farmers are accessing inputs under the command agriculture scheme. Some are also failing to access loans from financial institutions, thereby adversely affecting farming preparations. The Zimbabwean Farmers Union (ZFU) principal director Mr Paul Zakariya said inputs under the command agriculture scheme should be distributed to the farmers on time.
“If we get inputs on time like what is happening currently, we will achieve the targets. Land preparations should also not be delayed,” he said.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development (Cropping) Deputy Minister Davis Marapira said the targeted 2 million tonnes will cut down the country’s import bill.
“Our target is to cut down maize imports and instead use the much needed foreign currency to import irrigation equipment such as centre pivots and tractors,” he said.
Farmers under the command agriculture scheme each have a mandate to produce at least 1 000 tonnes of maize. The farmers will retain any surplus produce for subsistence use.
Online Reporter