Government warns ‘braai’ farmers

Government has warned new farmers who have turned their farms into “braai resorts”, saying they risk losing the land if they remain unproductive.

By Jairos Saunyama

Agriculture deputy minister (crops, mechanisation and irrigation) David Marapira said government was aware of farmers who owned huge tracts of land, but were doing nothing except hosting

Speaking at a field day marking the launch of two new hybrid maize seed varieties by Pioneer Seed Company held at Tshuma Farm in Mazowe on Thursday, Marapira said such unproductive farms would be seized and redistributed to other farmers.

“I was at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair when I got shocking news that there are farmers who go on top of the hill with braai stands and boast of owning large tracts of land. We are going to take over those unproductive lands. Those who bring braai stands to their farms, please do so, but the government will seize the farms and allocate them to serious farmers,” he said.

Speaking at the same event, Chief Chiweshe took the opportunity to warn farmers who were selling part of their land to other people.

“I know what is happening in this area. Some farmers are selling land to their friends and relatives. We have farmers with land without proper paperwork in this area and we will not tolerate that,” Chief Chiweshe said.

Meanwhile, government has approved two new maize seed varieties manufactured by Pioneer Seed Company.

The hybrid PHB 30G21 and P 3883W are early maturity seed varieties that farmers are encouraged to plant in a bid to adapt to the climate change phenomenon.

Pioneer Seed Company country manager Robert Nkatazo described the two seed varieties as resistant to diseases, among other merits.

“Climate change is not about droughts only, we can experience a lot of rainfall and this will result in the increase of diseases, hence there is need for seeds that adapt to that. The two varieties, yield under good management exceeds 12 tonnes per hectare,” he said.