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A young boy is awed by a prize bull at the Harare Agricultural Show yesterday. – (Picture by John Manzongo)

Elita Chikwati Senior Agriculture Reporter
The Command Agriculture stand has become one of the popular places at the on-going Harare Agricultural Show with farmers visiting in large numbers to learn about the programme, get advice and expertise on farming.

The show has presented an opportunity for farmers to meet with different service providers within the programme. Command Agriculture is a programme implemented under the guidance of the Cabinet Committee on Food Security and Nutrition chaired by Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa and run by the Office of the President and Cabinet.

The Command Agriculture task-force representatives exhibiting at the show are impressed by the turnout of people enquiring on the programme.

The stand is occupying 2 000 square metres and has all the important departments within the programme.

Housed in the stand are different sections on all stages the farmer has to follow to be considered for the programme – from application up to marketing of the produce. Command Agriculture exhibitor Mr Thamsanqa Sibanda said they took the opportunity offered by the show to reach out to many farmers.

“This is an opportunity for farmers and other people interested in the programme to come and learn more, enquire on the programme and understand on the issues they do not have adequate understanding on,” he said.

“We are also showcasing the success of the programme. We have all sections, tillage services where farmers can learn about different tillage services that are available for the programme, crop maintenance, livestock section, seed suppliers, fertiliser manufacturers, chemical suppliers, machinery and equipment suppliers.

“All service providers are in the stand and farmers can go to the providers they want to interact with.” Mr Sibanda said the team had also showcased at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in April, although it was not a big exhibition.

“We are also having road shows across the country,” he said. “We want farmers to know about the programme and we always present an opportunity for them to ask questions on issues they do not understand.

“It is unfortunate that we cannot register farmers for the programme here at the show because the process requires physical inspection of the farm before a farmer can be accepted into the programme.”

Command Agriculture is credited for being one of the initiatives by Government that led to a bumper harvest of maize realised in the 2016/17 farming season. Under the programme, farmers are given inputs and other requirements in return for delivering five tonnes each to the Grain Marketing Board.