dyton mupawaendaThe Herald, June 19, 1980
THE Government hoped to offer financial aid to 15 000 peasant farmers during the next year, the Minister of Agriculture, Senator Denis Norman, said in the House of Assembly yesterday, reports Iana.
Senator Norman also said attempts to bring subsistence farmers into the cash economy were not to be at the expense of the most productive sector, the predominantly white commercial farmers, even though strenuous efforts would be made to develop peasant farmers.
Intervening in the debate on the President’s speech, Senator Norman also said yellow maize cost $135 a tonne to import, compared with $200 a tonne for white maize, and for this reason the country was obtaining the yellow variety.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
• Peasant farmers are a critical component of the farming community. While they utilise small pieces of land and grow crops for subsistence, their combined output usually surpasses those of commercial farmers.
• Peasant farmers need to be adequately supported so that they can make significant input to the sector. The Government has done well under the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme where it is supporting over 1.6 million vulnerable households for maize, sunflower, small grains, soya beans production.
• It is critical that small scale farmers utilise all the inputs they receive, instead of selling them.
Online Reporter