adminLovemore Kadzura Rusape Correspondent—
GOVERNMENT’S command agriculture programme has managed to capacitate young farmers who were failing to stand on their own due to various factors chief among them financial challenges.The programme which has seen Government availing all inputs to farmers required to produce maize has been described by young farmers as a shot in the arm as most of them benefitted from the programme.
Federation of Young Farmers Club in Zimbabwe co-ordinator for Manicaland Province and Headlands farmer, Cde Farai Mapfumo, said the programme came at the right time as most young farmers were financially incapacitated as financial institutions were not releasing loans for agricultural purposes.
Cde Mapfumo who has 70 hectares of maize under the command agriculture scheme, said young farmers would not disappoint by failing to produce the required tonnes per hectare as they were willing to prove to the nation and their icon, President Mugabe that they are capable of doing wonders on the land.
“As youths, we are happy that we are also part of this historic Government programme whose aim is to provide enough staple food for the nation. Information from our database showed that every deserving youth countrywide benefitted from this programme.
“We appreciate Government for this all inclusive scheme. Youths were previously sidelined in schemes such as mechanisation programme and this seriously demoralised most of us.
“The command agriculture programme helped to capacitate young farmers who are financially incapable to fund activities on the farm. It is financially demanding to farm just a single hectare of maize and this scheme is a shot in the arm. We are also happy with the tight monitoring mechanisms being done by Government to curb abuse of the inputs,” said Cde Mapfumo.
Another emerging farmer, Mr Booker Chinamasa, who has 80 hectares of maize under the programme, said the programme was going on well and hoped that the rains would continue falling for him to have a better harvest.
“Since I was allocated my farm I was having challenges of securing funding to kick start meaningful activities, but with command agriculture everything is now moving swiftly. There is no reason for this programme to fail because all the inputs are available for farmers,” said Mr Chinamasa.
Online Reporter