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Pamela Shumba, Senior Reporter
ACTING President Phelekezela Mphoko has urged communal farmers to consolidate the gains of independence by fully utilising land in their possession to ensure food security in their communities and the country at large.

The Acting President was in Bubi District yesterday to assess progress on the Bubi tillage programme that he introduced in the district last year to assist communal farmers.

Under the programme, four tractors that were availed by the Acting President are used to till pieces  of land for the communal farmers who only provide fuel.

Vulnerable groups that include the elderly, child headed homes and those living with disabilities do not pay anything.

The Acting President pays the drivers of the tractors.

The programme is operational in Wards 1, 10, 12 and 14.

The 2017-2018 tillage programme was launched on July 7, with the tilling starting in Ward 14 up to August 7. After that, the programme will move to Ward 1.

It will then be taken to Ward 12 on September 7, before moving to Ward 10 on October 7 up to November.

Addressing members of the tillage programme committee, Agritex officers, MPs, war veterans and villagers at Nkenyane along the Bulawayo-Nkayi road, Acting President Mphoko said everyone must utilise land.

“We have land and we must be grateful. Let’s make use of it because it’s the best way to get rid of poverty in our homes.

“I launched this programme because I’m committed to the achievement of food security in our communities and the country as a whole.

“I know that we have limited resources but let’s make the best out of what we have. We want hunger to be a thing of the past,” said Acting President Mphoko.

He commended the Bubi community for embracing the tillage programme and urged farmers to maintain the tractors so that the programme continues.

“I’m proud of the people in this area because they welcomed this tillage programme and it yielded results. This shows that if given adequate resources, nobody will go hungry. The good rains also complemented our efforts and I’m happy.

“These tractors are expensive and they need to be taken care of very well. Let’s maintain them and make sure that they are not used on rocky pieces of land.

I want them to last for more than 10 years. I also recognise the commitment exhibited by our Agritex officers and I urge them to work closely with the farmers,” he said.

Acting President Mphoko said he would talk to Agriculture Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Joseph Made to make sure  that the Agritex officers get motor bikes to do their work.

He urged farmers not to be over-ambitious by planting seed that they are not familiar with, as it would affect their yields.

Bubi MP, who is also the Minister of State in the Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Office, Cde Clifford Sibanda, commended VP Mphoko for introducing the tillage programme in his constituency.

“We’re grateful to the Acting President for introducing such a programme.

“The yields were above average this last season and we’re certain that the coming season will give us another bumper harvest.

“I would like to urge our Agritex officers to test our soils so that the farmers use the correct seed and improve food security in our communities,” said Cde Sibanda.

According to Agritex, the four wards are targeting 2 000 tonnes of maize this year. — @pamelashumba1