Zimpapers Logo

Fungai Lupande Mashonaland Central Bureau
LANDS, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement Minister Perrance Shiri has advised people in dry agro-ecological regions to plant small grains that are suitable for their areas to ensure food security. Speaking at Mushumbi Growth Point on Wednesday, Minister Shiri said every district in the country would have 200 hectares under irrigation in rural areas in the next 10 years to enable farmers to grow crops throughout the year.

“Take advantage of irrigation schemes and plant crops that are suitable for your areas. This will help to ensure food security,” said Minister Shiri.

“One of the old people in Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe recounted that there were no food shortages in that area before 1959. We asked him why and he said they used to plant small grains like rapoko, millet and sorghum, but the introduction of maize came with problems.

“Know crops that are suitable for your areas. Cotton is called ‘white gold’ and Government is encouraging people in border areas where there is minimum rainfall to plant cotton. I know there are no jobs, but cotton production creates self-jobs downstream, what more can you ask for. This is another process of building our economy.

“Government is doing its part. After receiving the inputs play your part in complimenting Government’s efforts of providing a better life in rural areas. You can add your inputs, but Government is making sure that people have somewhere to start. When you start asking what Government has done for you, remember these inputs. This is a pension.
“From the seed pack, you can sell cotton worth 51,8 cents per kilogramme.

“You would have used 18 cents per kg and you will be left with 33 cents as profit.”
Minister Shiri advised recipients of the cotton seed pack to sell their produce to Cottco to enable sustainability of the programme.

“We don’t want people who forget where the inputs came from and sell their produce to unscrupulous buyers,” said Minister Shiri.

“The President favoured the whole country with these inputs and 1,8 million people will benefit from seed maize packs, meaning they are enough for all families in rural areas. 400 000 hectares worth of cotton seed, fertilisers and chemicals are available.

“Some areas in the country did not receive adequate rainfall during the 2017/ 2018 farming season, but we have enough food for the whole country. I heard that in Goromonzi, GMB is refusing to buy grain, saying their silos are full and I said they should not forget the trouble we incurred begging for food in other countries.

“There is no silo that can be full when we can make use of open storage systems. We can sell to other countries.
“President Mnangagwa has said they will be no more hunger in Zimbabwe and we should all complement his efforts.”

Minister Shiri added that soon they would introduce a road-runner programme, but Government would first look for the market.

“I was talking to the Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe and he said all road runners in Zimbabwe were not enough to feed people in Beijing for a single lunch meal,” he said.

“I know you also keep guinea fowls, it is also special meat overseas. You don’t need to go to Harare to make money.”
Minister Shiri said Presidential Inputs Scheme beneficiaries will be given vouchers or receipts which they will use to collect the inputs when the farming season commences.