US$100m input scheme to benefit communal farmers

support scheme for the 2011/12 cropping season.
The scheme was announced after a meeting between the EU Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Aldo Dell Ariccia and Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Joseph Made in Harare last Thursday.
Speaking after the meeting, Minister Made, said Government was grateful with the support it was receiving from the EU.
He, however, said it was critical for Government to identify beneficiaries.
“We have 1,5 million households that require assistance and the EU caters for 800 000. This leaves a remainder which has to be catered for by Government,” he said.
The minister said the identification of the beneficiaries should be done with speed.
Ambassador Dell Ariccia, said EU would be co-ordinating with other organisations in the support of the 800 000 households.
“The selection criteria should be transparent and on that we will work with the responsible ministry,” he said.
Last season there were reports of some non-governmental organisations that were politicising the programme and distributing inputs along party lines.
The EU ambassador said he had agreed with Minister Made that such behaviour would not be tolerated this time.
“We will not tolerate misbehaviour and we will share information on such incidents. NGOs that receive the support should use the resources to benefit farmers,” he said.
Minister Made urged NGOs to respect the code of ethics.
“We have agreed that NGOs should remain focused and inputs should be distributed openly during the day.
“Whoever will be operating in the rural areas should work in an open and transparent way so that we do not receive such reports,” he said.
Some local farmers unions have been receiving funds from donors and these would also be audited.
Besides input support, EU will also assist Zimbabwe in irrigation rehabilitation, especially with technical expertise.
Minister Made said it was important that the two parties continued to work together since “we are in a global village”.
The meeting discussed various areas of co-operation between the two parties, the E-coli (bacteria that contaminates vegetables and fruits) and its impact to Africa and Foot and Mouth Disease and its effect on beef exports to Europe.
Some Zimbabwean experts are expected to assist with research on E-coli, which is contaminating food in Europe.
Since 2002, EU funded food aid distributions to improve the nutritional status of the population but shifted towards supporting agriculture and livelihood recovery programmes.