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Elita Chikwati in Chiredzi
Farmers under the Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (Cottco)’s Chiredzi Business Unit have started collecting inputs under the Presidential Well-Wishers Agriculture Inputs Scheme ahead of the 2017-2018 summer cropping season. Distribution of the cotton inputs to farmers started last Thursday at different common distribution points. According to Cottco statistics, 945 farmers collected seed and fertilisers on the first day. The farmers are getting inputs that are enough to cover one hectare. The inputs are being given to farmers in groups of between 25 and 50 in order to reduce congestion and overcrowding.

Registration for inputs, which is being done at the Common Input Distribution Point (CIDP) to avoid multiple registrations, requires farmer’s fingerprints for positive identification. Last season, both Cottco and the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) had different databases, which resulted in complications during the marketing of the crop. It is believed that the old system was easy to manipulate and was plagued by cases of multiple registrations.

Names of dead former cotton farmers appeared on the database, which made it convenient for side marketing. But the parastatal has since put measures to safeguard the crop, including encouraging couples to register using a single company. Chivi District ward 29 counsellor Happiness Makuvire said the Presidential Well-Wishers Agriculture Input Scheme had improved livelihoods of many people in the area.

“Last season, a few people grew the crop because most people were not aware of the programme and how it operated. Some people thought they were going to pay for the inputs. Most of the farmers who grew the crop last season have bought oxen, and this season we have seen an increase in the number of new growers coming to register. We encourage farmers to continue supporting the programme and not side-market the crop,” he said.

Beture farmer Ms Efraita Toto said as a widow, the programme had empowered her to provide for her family.

“I joined the programme last season and now I am able to send my children to school without any challenges, she said. With proceeds from two bales, one can buy an ox.”

The cotton Presidential Well-Wishers Agriculture Inputs Scheme started during the 2015/16 summer cropping season as Government sought to revive the collapsing sector. The programme is expected to run for three years. Cotton is important in terms of resuscitating the textile industry, producing edible oil, including cotton cake for livestock feeding. This year, 400 000 cotton growers across the country are expected to benefit from the Presidential Well-Wishers Agriculture Inputs Scheme.

There are also other versions of the scheme for both maize and small grain. The programme was put in place to ensure household food security. Last season, 800 000 farmers across the country benefited from the programme, and this year, an additional one million households will get inputs through the programme, bringing the number of beneficiaries to 1,8 million.