Presidential Inputs Support Scheme spreads to all districts

The Presidential Inputs Support Scheme has spread to all nine districts in the Midlands Province after being launched two weeks ago in Zvishavane. In an interview, Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs Owen Ncube said because of the timely distribution of the farming inputs to villagers across the province, preparations for the summer cropping season were going on smoothly.

“After launching the 2018/ 2019 Presidential Inputs Support Scheme in Zvishavane some two weeks ago, the scheme has now spread to all the districts in the province, meaning that the preparations for this summer cropping season is going on smoothly,” he said.

“The distribution has spread to other eight districts in the province which are Mberengwa, Shurugwi, Chirumhanzu, Kwekwe, Gokwe North, Gokwe South, Gweru and Kwekwe.”

Minister Ncube said early distribution of the farming inputs was going to work to the advantage of farmers as they could now prepare the fields before the start of the rainy season. He said they were following President Mnangagwa’s call for villagers to receive their farming inputs early.

“So far the process is going on very well, we haven’t experienced any problems,” said Minister Ncube.

“We are following President Mnangagwa’s directive that all farmers should receive the farming inputs early before the next farming season.”

Each farmer, Minister Ncube said, was receiving one by 50kg bag of Ammonium Nitrate, one by 50kg bag of Compound D fertiliser and 10kg maize seed for free.

He said it was unfortunate that his office had been getting reports that some unscrupulous village heads were making farmers pay for the free inputs.

“My office has been getting reports that some village heads are making farmers pay for the inputs which are supposed to be given for free,” said Cde Ncube.

“Such malpractices should stop and the criminals should be brought to book.”

The Presidential Inputs Support Scheme is meant to enable smallholder farmers to become food secure, as well as address nutritional requirements at household level.

This year the cotton inputs package has been added to the scheme.

“I also want to assure all farmers in the province that all of them will get inputs regardless of their political affiliation,” said Cde Ncube.