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Chenai Museta

FARMERS are strongly supporting the Government’s newly launched electronic input distribution platform.
The system is designed to streamline the allocation of agricultural inputs under the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme, promoting greater transparency in the distribution process.

The platform, which employs electronic signatures and a centralised online database, as a vital tool in reducing fraud and ensuring that inputs reach only genuine beneficiaries has been received well by farmers across the country.
With 1, 5 million farmers already registered, the initiative aims to register all farmers by mid-next year, further enhancing its impact across the agricultural landscape.

Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development permanent secretary, Professor Obert Jiri, emphasised that this system will not only increase efficiency but also instil a sense of accountability in the distribution of inputs.
Farmers have echoed these sentiments, highlighting how real time monitoring and streamlined processes will transform their operations.

Cotton Producers and Marketers Association (CPMA) chairman, Mr Stewart Mubonderi praised the initiative as crucial for curbing the rampant abuse of agricultural inputs.
“There was rampant abuse of these inputs at various levels and the only way to stop side marketing is through the newly introduced e-input system across all agricultural sectors.’” he said.
He further remarked that past issues, such as forged signatures confirming receipt of inputs, had severely undermined the Government’s efforts to empower rural farmers and ensure food security. Mr Mubonderi expressed optimism that the e-input system will enhance accountability, stating that it allows for better tracking of input distribution and prevents individuals from exploiting the system.

Zimbabwe Farmer’s Union (ZFU) secretary general, Mr Paul Zakariya concurred saying that the new platform will ensure that only those farmers listed in the database will receive inputs.
He noted that this year’s early distribution of inputs has generated excitement among farmers and ensure that planting season will start well on time.

“Everybody is excited, the season looks promising because we are expecting better weather conditions, with inputs distribution having already started farmers are looking forward to preparing for the upcoming rainy season without any delays.” he said.
Mr Zakariya encouraged farmers to be proactive by securing their own inputs during the marketing period, emphasising the importance of being prepared to plant as soon as the rains arrive.

Cotton Council of Zimbabwe (CCOZ) chief executive officer, Engineer Chris Murove welcomed the new system saying further tightening was possible by tying each contracted farmer to a specific piece of land which is geo-fenced by registering each field’s co-ordinates.

“In the case of cotton, this will ensure that the monitoring of all contracted and free cotton will be easier to do by independent auditors with access to the universal data base of all cotton farmers, hence curtailing, if not eliminating the scourge of side marketing.

“Crop validation and verification will be easier and cheaper to do using such technologies,” he said.
Eng Murove added: “We therefore look forward to a much more orderly 2024/2025 cotton season provided that contracts that are given to farmers are fair and stipulate contracted volumes for a given level of inputs, thus enabling even contracted farmers to remain with ‘free cotton’ once they meet the contracted volumes on the contracted fields. In this regard, Government should lead by example and the CCOZ will engage with Government with concrete proposals.”