Open more satellite  depots, GMB urged Dr Made
Dr Made

Dr Made

Tawanda Mangoma in Chiredzi
The Grain Marketing Board has been urged to speed up the opening of satellite depots across Zimbabwe, especially in cotton growing areas like Chiredzi, to assist farmers struggling to register for the Presidential Inputs Support Scheme.

In an interview, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Dr Joseph Made urged farmers to register for inputs at their nearest GMB depots to grow crops such as soya beans, maize and other small grain varieties.

Government has set aside $148 million for the Presidential Inputs Support Scheme, which would cover at least 1,8 million families across Zimbabwe.

“Cottco is handling the Presidential inputs for cotton production,” said Dr Made. “But for soya beans, maize and small grains GMB is responsible.
“I am not happy with the snail’s pace which GMB is moving with when it comes to establishing satellite depots across the country. Inputs must be delivered closer to the farmer.

“Cottco has already started distributing inputs and we want GMB to register farmers who will benefit from these programmes. We want farmers to receive inputs earlier before the rains so that they can plan their operations.”

Dr Made urged farmers to embrace President Mugabe’s programmes, as they ensure food security.

“President Mugabe is supporting the welfare of the farmer, thereby defending our independence while championing programmes such as the Land Reform Programme,” he said. “What His Excellency is defending now is the agrarian revolution through inputs support which in turn gives the farmer income-earning opportunities from the land.”

Dr Made said the soya bean packages were an addition to the Presidential Inputs Support Scheme.

He said while there were limitations to the number of cotton farmers, all communal farmers registered would receive inputs for maize and soya bean production.

“Soya bean is very important,” said Minister Made. “It fixes nitrogen in the soil. The country needs a lot of cooking oil from soya beans and we can produce soya cake for our livestock and soya chunks which are very nutritious.”

Dr Made reiterated that inputs for the Presidential Inputs Support Scheme would be given for free.

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