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Evelene Taadira Herald Reporter
FARMERS in Mashonaland East Province have urged the Government to ensure that inputs are available on time for the country to have a successful farming season, which begins in two weeks.The farmers made the appeal during a stakeholders’ preparatory workshop at Goromonzi High School on Monday.

Agricultural consultant Mr Darlington Sarupinda said Government’s commitment to assisting farmers needed to be translated into action on time.

“Government is trying its best. The priority should be on organising farmers in time and this means next week inputs and other requirements should be in place,” said Mr Sarupinda.

The Zanu-PF-led Government has said it would prioritise provision of agricultural inputs to smallholder farmers on time for the summer farming season as part of its post-election priorities.

Mr Sarupinda encouraged farmers to show  commitment through liaisons with other stakeholders to supplement Government subsidised inputs.

Zimbabwe Farmer’s Union Mashonaland East chairman Mr Claudious Marimo said farmers in the province were committed to ensuring that the country retained its bread basket status. He said with inputs support this was possible.

He said Government’s commitment to facilitate the availability of inputs was welcome as other organisations were giving farmers stringent conditions as part of their input support schemes.

Some organisations are asking farmers to surrender their cattle in exchange for inputs and such requirements were difficult for the farmer to meet, he said.

Mr Marimo said farmers’ organisations were happy with Zanu-PF’s stance to include them in the farming season’s preparations.
“We are happy that Government has said it will involve farmer organisations in its programmes,” said Mr Marimo.

“We are committed to working with the ruling party in implementing its promises.”