Zimbabwe Allocates $45 Million to Small Farmers For 2011-2012 Season
26 October 2011
Investment Minister Tapiwa Mashakada said although the funds are limited,
the input scheme will go a long way to help struggling farmers
Gibbs Dube & Violet Gonda | Washington
The Zimbabwean government has earmarked $45 million for financially strapped
small farmers and poor households lacking the means to buy seed and
fertilizer to plant maize crops now that the Grain Marketing Board,
traditionally a main source of inputs for struggling growers, has downsized
its operations in this respect.
Investment Minister Tapiwa Mashakada said $20 million will be channeled to
communal maize growers and $17 million to small-scale commercial farmers,
with another $8 million going to vulnerable households. The funds will be
administered through the Grain Marketing Board, the minister said.
Many farmers are under pressure because they cannot get bank loans to
finance crops. Some are still owed money by the GMB for grain delivered last
year and will be encouraged to accept payment in kind in seed and
fertilizer.
Mashakada told VOA Studio 7 reporter Gibbs Dube that although the funds are
limited, the input scheme will go a long way to help struggling farmers.
Deputy Agriculture Minister Seiso Moyo said the government expects the Grain
Marketing Board to distribute the agricultural inputs without reference to
political affiliations.
Independent agronomist Thomas Nherera, a founder of the Zimbabwe Commercial
Farmers Union of Zimbabwe, said there are high hopes farmers will soon start
planting their crops as they will now be able to more readily access
subsidized agricultural inputs.