Zvamaida Murwira-Senior Reporter

THE Government has procured bird repellent to ensure efficient control of quelea birds that have been found to be in all provinces as the Second Republic take steps to protect the winter wheat, whose condition has been encouraging.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said Government had since begun a nation-wide identification of roosting places of the quelea birds and implored farmers to provide surveillance information.

Minister Mutsvangwa said this while addressing a post-Cabinet briefing in Harare.

She said Cabinet received an update on the 2021 winter wheat production and maize marketing season presented by Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka.

“Cabinet wishes to inform the nation that the early planted wheat is now at booting stage in most provinces. Bird repellent has been procured to ensure efficient control of the quelea birds that have been sighted in all  provinces. Government has begun a nation-wide identification of roosting places of quelea birds,” she said.

“Farmers should assist by providing surveillance information on the roosting places, and additionally can collect bird repellent from their nearest GMB depots to protect their crops. The Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has been engaged to ensure efficient control of the birds. In order to eliminate side marketing, wheat contractors are putting in place harvesting and transport logistics.

“The country’s current wheat stocks of 81 419 tonnes are sufficient until the next harvest, which is expected to commence in September.”

She said at least 792 325 tonnes of maize, 11 769 tonnes of soya bean and 81 755 tonnes of traditional grains had been delivered to the GMB as at August 24, with Mashonaland West topping on maize delivery and soyabean intake while Mashonaland Central was highest in relation to traditional grains.

On tobacco marketing, it was noted that cumulative sales increased to 206 639 819 kg compared to the 184 million kg that was sold during the same period last year.

There was more revenue collected this season compared to last year, she said.

“As part of the strategy to localise the funding of tobacco, the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board will contract 50 000 hectares valued at US$60 million, compared to the 12 000 hectares contracted the previous season,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

“The cotton intake is 66 percent of the targeted intake, and has surpassed the 2020 deliveries by 20 percent. Cottco has paid $1 779 000 000 and US$1 746 115 to farmers, while Treasury has paid $620 million of the $850 million that was owed to cotton farmers from the 2020 marketing season,” she said.

Cabinet had also approved the National Wetlands Policy and Guidelines presented by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga as Chairman of the Enhanced Cabinet Committee on Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Management.

The approved policy will guide wetlands management for incorporation in development planning by Government, the private sector and development partners, traditional leaders, communities and individuals.

“The policy will facilitate the establishment of an effective and efficient institutional and legal framework for integrated management, and enhance capacity building within relevant institutions involved in the management of wetlands,” she said.

“Government will  designate all wetlands as areas that are unsuitable for settlement, gazette all ecologically sensitive wetlands, undertake orderly relocation of people in order to pave way for the rehabilitation of wetlands, and enforce the requirement for Environmental Management Agency certification for any developments in sensitive wetlands. There shall be efficient measures for waste management from point of source, with stiff penalties being imposed for the offence of discharging waste into wetlands.”

Government shall establish wetland education centres countrywide, set up functional local wetland management institutions, restore the powers of traditional Leaders in wetland management, and strengthen legislation to protect various habitats found on wetlands.