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Brenda Ziga Herald Reporter
Delta Beverages is contracting Mhondoro Ngezi farmers to produce sorghum for the 2016-17 summer cropping season. This is also expected to boost food security at household level for the Mhondoro Ngezi farmers. Delta Beverages agronomist Mr Timothy Panganai,confirmed the development on Thursday saying the company planned to contract both commercial and communal farmers.

“Delta Beverages will contract commercial and communal farmers in Mhondoro Ngezi. We have already sent the request to the farmers indicating what is required of them.

“We are still to meet with the farmers’ representatives for them to give us the number of farmers who are willing to take up the contracts,” he said.

Mr Panganai said, “Farmers will be given inputs in advance and be repaid upon delivery of the crop to Delta. Delta will provide all inputs to commercial farmers on loan including fertilisers, seed and herbicides while communal farmers will only be provided with seed.”

“Delivery prices are not fixed and will vary from season to season,” he said.

He said the company would provide transport to ferry the sorghum from the various collection points.

“We are going to provide transport to reduce production costs. Communal farmers should be in groups for easy transportation of the crop to the company. Each group should produce at least 30 tonnes,” he said.

Speaking at the same occasion, Harare Agricultural Show chairman Mr Ivan Craig, said farmers should use agricultural shows as they helped them to improve the quality of their crop.

“Agricultural show is a platform which must be maximised by farmers to improve productivity.

“It is also a platform where farmers learn new techniques from each other to improve the quality of their crops,” he said.

Mr Craig applauded Agritex extension officers for the support they provided to farmers.

“Agritex officers are doing a tremendous job in promoting agricultural shows from ward level up to national level. For farmers to bring good quality crops to the shows, it is because of the advice from the extension workers,” he said.