This letter goes to my fellow farmers who have not yet started to prepare for the upcoming cropping season.

My friends, preparations for any work can never be said to be too early.

The time to prepare for the season is now.

I am sure most of you have heard that we are most likely to have early and better rains than we had last year.

We cannot let this opportunity pass us only because we were late and disorganised in our preparations.

I am writing this with the hope that we have already secured the major inputs such as seed, fertiliser and chemicals.

Working with our local Agritex officers, we should now start land preparations so that by the time we receive first seasonal rains everything will be set for planting.

Let me also emphasise the importance of soil testing, especially for small-scale and subsistence farmers.

The soils in most communal lands no longer have much to offer to crops, hence they need to be helped by chemicals.

However, we will never know how much chemicals the soil needs if it is not tested.

Those doing Pfumvudza I salute you, keep the ball rolling.

This programme will lift many from poverty.

My last request goes to all companies and businesses in the agriculture sector and its entire value chain.

I say please don’t take advantage of the farmer, lets shun profiteering and corruption so that we can build our country together.

Luis Marimira, Macheke.