Govt pays out $5,5m for wheat deliveries
Cde Made
Elita Chikwati Agriculture Reporter
Government has paid $5,5 million to farmers for wheat delivered to the Grain Marketing Board last year to boost preparations for this winter cropping season, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Dr Joseph Made has said.Minister Made yesterday said Government was working on modalities to support wheat production this season.
He said farmers had started preparations for the winter wheat cropping season and Government was making concerted efforts to assist them.
“Last week, Government paid $5, 5 million for wheat delivered last season to capacitate farmers to produce the crop,” he said.
“We have a balance of close to $2 million and we want to ensure that farmers get their money so they can start preparing for the winter season.”
Dr Made urged wheat farmers to take advantage of the moisture to plant the crop.
“We want to assist farmers produce wheat so we can close the gaps on the shortfall on maize,” he said.
“We also urge farmers to consider Irish potato during this winter cropping season, it is a major food crop.”