Mugabe's controversial farming inputs scheme begins

THE controversial Presidential Agricultural Input Scheme has started distributing $200 million worth of inputs to farmers set to benefit 1,6 million households across the country this farming season.

The scheme covers inputs such as maize, cotton and wheat production and is being disbursed at the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) depots countrywide.

Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Deputy Minister responsible for crop production Davis Marapira yesterday said the distribution of the inputs started last week.

"Distribution of the inputs has started and so far we've covered some of the areas in Mashonaland provinces where inputs such as seed maize, fertilisers have been dispensed. We'll soon be moving to Matabeleland region where farmers will receive small-grains," he said.

Under the scheme, each household would receive 50kg of compound D fertiliser, 50kg of ammonium nitrate and 10kg seed maize. The package also includes 5kg of cotton and wheat seed as well as 2kg of soya beans.

Beneficiaries of the facility are mainly communal, small-scale, A1 and resettled farmers.

In the past, the initiative targeted maize producers but this year it has been extended to about 350,000 cotton growers facing production and marketing constraints.

Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers' Union president Wonder Chabikwa confirmed that small-scale farmers had started receiving the inputs.

The scheme was in the past been criticized for been carried out on partisan grounds with Zanu PF officials abusing it to canvass support for President Mugabe. But the First Family has warned party officials from politicizing the scheme saying ‘everyone' should benefit.