Zimpapers Logo

Dr Made

From George Maponga in Masvingo
Government has ordered agricultural extension officers not to interfere in the ongoing distribution of farming inputs donated under the Presidential Input Support Scheme for the 2017-18 farming season, a Cabinet minister has said. Police is reportedly on high alert to deal with those bent on abusing inputs. Distribution of farming inputs is currently underway in most parts of the country, with 1,8 million households expected to benefit from the inputs support scheme this year.

Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Dr Joseph Made said distribution of the farming inputs was the sole prerogative of the Grain Marketing Board and Cottco.

“I want to make it very clear that no extension worker (Agritex) should be involved in the distribution of inputs; that job is for GMB and Cottco. They are the ones who must move the inputs to satellite depots and distribute them to the farmers. Everything was calculated and the number of households that will benefit is 1,8 million and that is known,’’ he said. Dr Made said the duty of extension workers was to impart knowledge to farmers about on-field issues.

“The farmers know where the inputs are collected and they must go to the satellite depots themselves and collect their inputs. No one is allowed to collect the inputs on behalf of the other. We will not allow a situation where farmers are force-marched to collect the inputs as if they do not know where they get them. Our farmers are wise and they know,’’ he said.

“The duty of Agritex officers is to impart farming knowledge to our farmers in the field; that is what they are trained to do. Farmers have many challenges on their fields and this is where we expect Agritex officers to play a part not to distribute inputs.” Minister Made expressed satisfaction with current progress in distributing farming inputs. He, however, ordered the two parastatals to complete distributing the inputs over the next seven days. Farmers, he said, had to take advantage of the wet spell prevailing in most parts of the country.

“Police are out there in full force to deal with those who might think of abusing the inputs. I want to say so far so good, we have not received many reports of abuse of farming inputs, but GMB and Cottco should intensify the distribution.’’ Dr Made urged GMB to make sure farmers who delivered their crop were paid in time for them to adequately prepare for the 2017-18 season. He challenged GMB to adjust working hours for its employees in light of the increased workload mainly caused by farmers awaiting payment for grain deliveries.

“Most of the depots (GMB) have paid farmers for grain deliveries and farmers should not just complain that they are not being paid. They must indicate the name of the depot and the identity of the depot manager who will be giving them problems. Even if the problem of payment is at head office (GMB), they must say it because we are saying those at head office should be sensitive to the plight of our farmers. Some of them did very well under difficult conditions and would need to be motivated to do more by getting their payment for grain deliveries.”

Dr Made said he was pleased with the performance of some farmers who managed to deliver produce to GMB for the first time following a successful 2016-17 farming season. There have been reports that some senior officials such as councillors were reportedly abusing inputs donated by Government under the Presidential Input Support Scheme, amid reports that some of the inputs were being sold by beneficiaries in other parts of the country.