Farming inputs scheme launched in Zvishavane

Cde Owen Ncube

Midlands Bureau Chief
GOVERNMENT has launched the distribution of farming inputs for the 2018- 2019 farming season under the Presidential Inputs Support Scheme for the Midlands Province in Zvishavane district .

Launching the scheme in Mazvihwa Village, Zvishavane on Thursday, Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, Cde Owen Ncube said President Mnangagwa had directed that the programme start early to enable farmers to plant with the first rains.

“The President, His Excellency, Cde Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa has directed that all farmers who are beneficiaries of the 2018-2019 Presidential Input Support Scheme should access their inputs early. This is to facilitate planting with the first rains in order to realise a bumper harvest,” he said.

Cde Ncube said early distribution of inputs shows Government’s commitment to boosting agricultural production.

He however warned farmers against selling the inputs meant to boost production in order to guarantee food security.

“Farmers should not sell the inputs and those caught selling the inputs will be prosecuted,” he said.

Each farmer, Cde Ncube said was going to get a 50kg bag of Ammonium Nitrate, a 50kg bag of Compound D and 10 kg of seed maize.

Cde Ncube said the issue of climate change was negatively impacting on productivity and Government was working on a number of initiatives meant to mitigate against the impact such as establishing irrigation schemes.

He said the Presidential Inputs Scheme was complementing Command Agriculture which was also meant to boost production.