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Dr Made

From Tawanda Mangoma in Chiredzi
Government has said the Presidential Well Wishers Support Inputs Scheme will benefit 1,8 million households and not individual farmers as earlier indicated by some sectors. Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Dr Joseph Made yesterday also clarified that the Grain Marketing Board should make sure that each of the 1,8 million households received a compulsory inputs package for maize or sorghum and soya beans.

He said of the 1,8 million households, 400 000 in cotton growing areas will each receive an additional input package from the Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (Cottco) towards the production of a hectare of cotton.

“I want to make this important clarification for the benefit of the nation, his Excellency President Robert Mugabe said the inputs issued under the Presidential Well-Wishers Free Support Inputs Scheme must benefit 1,8 million households and not individuals,” he said.

“These inputs must be issued to the country’s 1,8 million rural families, hence GMB and the Cotton Company of Zimbabwe must make sure that they move with speed in issuing these inputs to their intended beneficiaries, which are households not individuals.” Dr Made rubbished claims by some GMB managers, who were reportedly denying each household inputs for maize or sorghum and soyabeans. He said such farmers should capture the details of GMB or Cottco officials, who were going against his pronouncements on inputs distribution and notify him.

“I don’t want GMB managers who undermine my authority,” he said. “As a country we have 1,8 million households and we availed adequate inputs for maize and or sorghum and soyabeans. Each household must get either maize or sorghum inputs and then soyabeans, which is com- pulsory.” Dr Made said he anticipated that all extension workers had already started field visits in which they would be helping farmers, especially on the understanding of soyabean production.

“Soyabeans is a new crop to most farmers across the country, hence I expect all extension workers to be on the ground teaching farmers, mainly about this crop. This is no longer time for office meetings, it’s time to meet the farmer who happens to be the guarantor of the jobs, which extension workers are being pompous with.” Dr Made said they were also working at improving transport facilities for extension workers, so that they could visit every farmer multiple times in each farming season.