Officials who abuse government-funded agricultural inputs will be blacklisted while ward committee members face bans for similar impropriety as the government expects 50 percent of free inputs for the current cropping season to reach the 3.5 million targeted households by mid this month.
The 2024/25 Summer Season Plan aims to increase production of cereals to 3.3 metric tonnes (mt) and pulses to 819 500mt, against the 744 271mt obtained during the El Nino-induced drought ravaged 2023/2024 summer season.
The overall production volumes of major crops are expected to increase by 347 percent from a mere 915 000mt to over 4 million mt.
Briefing the media after the weekly Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere said Cabinet had been updated on the 2023/24 summer crops marketing, food security outlook to March 2025, the 2024 winter crops production and the 2024/25 crops summer season plan.
“Under the Presidential Input Schemes, 91 percent of the targeted 9.5 million plots have been prepared by 86 percent of the targeted 3.5 million households. All beneficiaries will receive 50 percent of their inputs by 24th November, 2024,” he said.
“Government has adopted additional measures to curb the abuse of inputs. The measures include the blacklisting of any official involved in input abuse, banning ward committees involved in inputs abuse, and implementing an improved Standard Operating Procedure with role clarity.”
The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) has to date received 20 148mt of maize, soya beans, sorghum and sunflower from the El Nino-ravaged 2023/24 summer season, while the private sector has imported 974 658mt of maize, wheat and wheat flour since April 1 this year.
On its part, the government has imported 39 916mt of maize, while the total Strategic Grain Reserve stock stands at 244 296mt.
Muswere said the government has distributed 197 628.796mt of grain to feed the vulnerable and food insecure households since February under the ongoing Food Deficit Mitigation Program.
Additionally, 17 421mt of mealie-meal have been distributed to schools under the Emergency Schools Feeding Program since the beginning of the Third Term, with the aim of ensuring learners get a decent meal on each school day.
A record 518 502mt of wheat have been harvested from 106 238 hectares as at November 1, surpassing the 465 546mt achieved in 2023.
Of this crop, 75 000mt have so far been delivered to the GMB with the success of the winter wheat program attesting to the foresight, planning and organizational dexterity of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his government.
Harvesting continues using over 291 configured combine harvesters and more than 550 000mt of wheat is still expected.
“The National Enhanced Agricultural Productivity Scheme will establish a total of 52 500 hectares under maize, soyabean, traditional grains and sunflower, with a target to produce 256 000 metric tonnes. The private sector has also undertaken to fund establishment of 95 046 hectares of maize, soya beans, potatoes, sugar beans and sunflower.
“The ARDA (Agricultural and Rural Development Authority) facility will plant 100 000 hectares under maize and 50 000 hectares of traditional grains. The private sector support for cotton targets 418 800 farmers to plant 270 000 hectares under cotton. The target tobacco production for the 2024/25 season is 300 million kilograms, and to date, over 117 000 growers have registered.”
New Ziana