Zimpapers Logo

Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Matabeleland South Bureau Chief

GOVERNMENT has reiterated that farmers should not be charged for transportation of inputs for the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme from Grain Marketing Board depots to their villages.

In the past, unscrupulous authorities have been charging farmers exorbitant prices purporting that the money is for transporting inputs.

This year the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme is set to benefit 3,5 million farmers in communal, A1, small scale commercial farming, old resettlement and peri-urban farmers in the production of cereals, oilseeds and legumes including a special pack for 500 000 urban farmers.

Farmers are expected to plant 2 million hectares of maize. For sorghum, Government has set a target of 380 000 hectares to produce 304 000 tonnes while 250 000 ha are set to be put under pearl millet to produce 150 000 tonnes.

The programme is supporting five Pfumvudza/Intwasa plots, each measuring 39m x16m in size per household.
In low rainfall agro-ecological regions, three plots will be put under maize, sorghum and pearl millet.

The maize plot is for household food and the other two plots under traditional grains are to produce for commercial sale.

Farmers are expected to plant 25 000ha of finger millet to produce 13 750 tonnes of the crop. Some farmers have finished land preparations while others are wrapping up. Input distribution is underway across the country.

Traditional leaders are also going to benefit from the programme under Isiphala Senkosi programme as well as headmen and village heads.

Addressing stakeholders during a meeting in Gwanda on Monday, GMB southern regional manager Ms Podiso Mafa said Government has made provisions to ensure that inputs reach farmers free of charge.

“Farmers should not be charged anything towards transportation of inputs from GMB to wards. Government has set aside money towards transportation of inputs. As GMB we have been given a mandate to organise transport.

We will be working with ZNA, DDF, CMED and private transporters in ferrying inputs. In cases where transporters might have challenges in accessing diesel Government will facilitate so that they can get it from GMB depots,” she said.

“As GMB and Agritex we have been given guidelines and modalities to follow when distributing inputs. At the end of it all auditors are going to make a follow up to ensure that the process has done well. We have in the past faced a challenge as some people don’t follow modalities which is an offence.”

Ms Mafa said payment of transporters has now been decentralised to provinces and regions.
She urged transporters to submit their invoices immediately after delivering inputs so that their payments could be processed early.

Ms Mafa said a vehicle will not be allowed to carry inputs without a contract.

She said procedure states that a farmer should receive the inputs only if they had prepared their land. She said if a farmer has prepared three plots they could be given inputs.

Mrs Mafa said committees have been put in place at district and ward level to facilitate the input distribution process.
“At district level the committee is chaired by DCC with Agritex being the secretariat. Committees members include GMB, ZRP and DDF and others that will be seen fit to be added. At ward level the committee is chaired by the councillor with the secretariat being the secretary and the headmaster being the deputy secretariat. The committee members include ZRP, GMB and the local leadership,” she said.

Mrs Mafa said the input distribution process should not take place without the supervision of the police. She said the distribution process was supposed to be guided by a register generated from the ground by Agritex extension officers who would have compiled it with evidence of people that would have prepared their land.

Also speaking during the same meeting, Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Cde Abedinico Ncube urged all stakeholders involved in the input distribution process to follow correct procedures.

He said the programme is aimed at benefitting communities and officials should not block this by their unscrupulous actions.
Cde Ncube also urged distribution committees to disseminate information on the process to all communities.

“As the input distribution process goes on may we ensure that we do all things above board. The Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme is the brainchild of President Mnangagwa with the aim of developing communities and alleviating poverty through ensuring food and nutrition security.

Let’s not sabotage Government by being corrupt and greedy. Also ensure that information the distribution process reaches all communities even the remote parts,” he said. – @DubeMatutu