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Lovemore Kadzura Rusape Correspondent
Prominent Rusape white commercial farmer, Mr John Carman Stanger, has endorsed the Command Agriculture initiative, describing it as a critical programme that has changed the face of the agricultural sector in the country.

In an interview on the sidelines of a tour of his Chimbi Source Farm by Government officials from Command Agriculture head office, Mr Stanger said the programme was designed in a way that guaranteed farmers to break even and post meaningful profits.

Mr Stanger has an 800 hectare farm where he is into milk and beef production, and also grows various crop.

He has 100 hectares under wheat and intends to put 200 hectares under maize. Mr Stanger said Command Agriculture came at the right time, as farmers were being given raw deals by commercial banks that charge untenable interests on loans.

“Command Agriculture is a very good programme that every serious farmer must embrace and be part of,” he said. “It has advantages in that farmers get assistance in getting the inputs and all the necessities that makes farming easy going.

“It is also good in that it is addressing two things at a time, that is capacitating farmers and food security for the country. If a farmer does his preparatory work and put the inputs to good use, he or she will reap a good harvest and ultimately good profits.

“If you compare the lending rates at banks and compare them with Command Agriculture terms and conditions, you will discover that the later is the best. There are no stringent conditions such as collateral and unsustainable interests.

“For me, Command Agriculture Programme is progressing on well because I got all what I wanted for the 100 hectares I had planted. The only hiccup was the delays in accessing inputs. I am expecting a bumper harvest on this crop and, of course, a reasonable profit margin.”

The delegation that visited Mr Stanger’s farm included Air Marshal Perrence Shiri, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development, Engineer Ringson Chitsiko and Lands and Rural Resettlement Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Grace Mutandiro. Air Marshal Shiri and Engineer Chitsiko encouraged Mr Stanger to continue working hard, saying that he was a good example of the Command Agriculture success story.