…Special programme on maize production for import substitution
Government is working on a disaster risk reduction measure for the farming season 2016/ 17 and subsequent seasons, Vice President Mnangagwa has said.
The $500 million command agricultural programme which is meant to ensure maize self-sufficiency aims to produce two million tonnes of maize on 400 000 hectares of land.
The project will see government aiding identified farmers with inputs, irrigation and mechanised equipment.
Addressing journalists in the capital Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa told journalists that the Ministries of Lands and Rural Resettlement, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development and Environment, Water and Climate will choose active farmers who will be used for the pilot project.
The $500m project follows a sharp declined in maize production in the past few years as a result of the elnino induced drought which caused erratic rainfall patterns in most parts of the country.
According to 2016 Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Report (ZIMVAC) national food security has risen from an average of 12% to as high as 42% where as many as 4 million Zimbabweans are likely to be food insecure.
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“Government took a decision to embark on command agriculture programme in the coming summer season, in order to ensure food security and food supply self-sufficiency,” said VP Mnngagwa.
VP Mnangagwa said the programme will enhance local maize production capacity while at the same time reducing maize imports.
“This programme aims to produce maize locally as well as reducing grain imports. While this special programme will target and provide support for the 400 000ha on a cost every basis, the government programmes such as the presidential inputs scheme will still be attended to every farmer an every Zimbabwean is very special to the government,” he said.
The programme will be being administrated from the Office of the President and Cabinet and implemented under the guidance of the Cabinet Committee on Food Security and Nutrition.
VP Mnangagwa called on both the private and public sector to participate in the programme to ensure its success.
“This is a national programme and as such, both the public and private sector and the farmers must come together and cooperate in the funding and implementation of this effort.
“We are producing for Zimbabwe and we should each according to their ability, play a meaningful role. Specialized and experienced technical extension services must be deployed from both Government and the private sector,” he said.
He added that: “Every farmer and every Zimbabwean is special to Government. The special programme on maize production has the advantage that funds will be used locally to buy inputs and it also ensures labour for locals. We are going to clamp down on corrupt elements through austere supervision.”
