News / National
118 000 ltrs of fuel distributed in Midlands Province under Command Agriculture
14 Nov 2016 at 07:38hrs | Views
At least 118 000 litres of fuel has so far been issued to Midlands Province farmers under the Command Agricultural Program, the Provincial Agritex officer Peter Chamisa has said.
He said, in an interview with The Mirror that 327 300 more litres are still expected to come.
He added that there are 17 000 hectares that would be covered under the Command Agric Scheme.
"Some 118 000 litres have so far been distributed in the province, 80 000 litres came to our office and some farmers collected 38 000 litres direct from head office.
"In total we need 445 300 litres of diesel for the program to run in Midlands so we are awaiting the rest of the allocation to come," said Chamisa.
He also said that 85 000 tons of maize are expected to be produced in the province from the 3 319 hectares of irrigated land and 13 000 tonnes rain feed agricultural land.
"This is really a tough project we are doing because our target is 85 000 tonnes of maize which should come from 3 319 irrigated hectares and 13 000 tonnes will come from the rain fed fields.
"To ensure that we meet the required target we have been conducting trainings for farmers," said Chamisa.
He said that inputs are arriving and some farmers have collected but there is also a challenge of farming equipment.
"Inputs are also arriving but a major problem is on equipment like tractors and ploughs that are failing to meet demand. Farmers do not have money to pay so we are calling upon the private sector to help with services and farmers will pay when they sell their maize," said Chamisa.
He said, in an interview with The Mirror that 327 300 more litres are still expected to come.
He added that there are 17 000 hectares that would be covered under the Command Agric Scheme.
"Some 118 000 litres have so far been distributed in the province, 80 000 litres came to our office and some farmers collected 38 000 litres direct from head office.
"In total we need 445 300 litres of diesel for the program to run in Midlands so we are awaiting the rest of the allocation to come," said Chamisa.
He also said that 85 000 tons of maize are expected to be produced in the province from the 3 319 hectares of irrigated land and 13 000 tonnes rain feed agricultural land.
"This is really a tough project we are doing because our target is 85 000 tonnes of maize which should come from 3 319 irrigated hectares and 13 000 tonnes will come from the rain fed fields.
"To ensure that we meet the required target we have been conducting trainings for farmers," said Chamisa.
He said that inputs are arriving and some farmers have collected but there is also a challenge of farming equipment.
"Inputs are also arriving but a major problem is on equipment like tractors and ploughs that are failing to meet demand. Farmers do not have money to pay so we are calling upon the private sector to help with services and farmers will pay when they sell their maize," said Chamisa.
Source - Masvingo Mirror
