Chronicle EditorAndile Tshuma, Chronicle Reporter
Senators have hailed the Command Agriculture Programme saying it has been a success. Presenting a report of the thematic committee on peace and security on Command Agriculture, the committee’s chairperson Cde Damien Mumvuri said the programme had met its target.
“Considering the speed with which the Command Agriculture was rolled out and its expected maize production projected to be in excess of two million metric tonnes, the programme is to a greater extent, successful in accomplishing its objectives. Under the programme, hectarage under maize was tremendously expanded to close to the anticipated 400 000 hectares, both dry and irrigated land. The objective of the programme, namely to produce maize locally and reduce grain imports, was achieved,” said Cde Mumvuri.
He said the committee concluded that a number of challenges must be addressed as the programme continues to be rolled out.
Cde Mumvuri said the Command Agriculture Programme staff continue to work with unwavering dedication to duty even during weekends and holidays under difficult circumstances and shortage of motor vehicles and other equipment. The workers, he said, should be given incentives such as travel and subsistence allowances beginning the 2017/18 farming season. The senator however highlighted some challenges that were faced.
“Late supply or no supply of inputs to contracted farmers; shortage of tillage tractors and other key equipment including combine harvesters, driers and pivots; late payment of rendered services such as payment of tillage services; and shortage of transport for the programme officers, just to mention the main ones,” he said.
The committee recommended in its report that mechanisation was supposed to be a key component of Command Agriculture to ensure greater success.
“The Command Agriculture Programme should have mechanisation as its critical component. Farmers should be assisted to get equipment: tractors, planters, combine harvesters, driers, and irrigation equipment, among others. This can best be achieved through affordable loan facilities since most farmers have demonstrated capacity to purchase their equipment once they produce and are paid on time. In the meantime, critical equipment which includes combine harvesters and driers can be deployed at central GMB or collection points so that farmers in the vicinity can make use of such machinery at a fee,” he said.
He said decentralisation of services was necessary so as to ensure timely service delivery for farmers.
To make this possible, Cde Mumvuri said, the Public Service Commission should decentralise the department of irrigation and mechanisation as its personnel is based in provinces making it expensive and difficult to offer services to districts. Senators said Command Agriculture should improve its inputs distributive efficiency to the full benefits of all farmers, big and small and recommended that all essential inputs in their varieties, should be delivered at central GMB distribution points on time for collection by farmers. They also said a cropping calendar be put in place and farmers be educated on how to follow it throughout the year.
“There is a need to put in place a cropping calendar. Among other things, the calendar shall provide guidance to contracted farmers, Command Agriculture provincial teams, and inputs manufacturers and suppliers, dates for the supply of inputs to farmers by August for summer crop; timely accessing of ploughing, disking and harrowing services; coordinated and effective application of pesticides to eradicate pests; timed harvesting and collection of maize to free irrigation fields for winter wheat crop,” said Cde Mumvuri. — @andile_tshuma
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter