MUTARE-Government has intensified the online inputs distribution system
specifically designed to prevent the abuse of the agricultural inputs under the
Presidential Inputs Scheme ahead of the 2023/24 summer cropping season.
In the past, there have been reports of inputs abuse allegedly by some officials
in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural
Development as well as those from the Grain Marketing Board Depots across
the country.
In some cases, the officers deliberately omit names of qualifying farmers,
excluding them from benefiting from Government’s Pfumvudza/Intwasa Input
scheme.
Cases of inputs abuse are widespread and, in some cases, individuals have been
nabbed for channelling inputs to the market.
Some beneficiaries of the programmes have also been selling the inputs, such as
fertilisers, while others diverted them towards production of commodities
outside the contracts.
In terms of Statutory Instrument 274 of 2018, it is a criminal offence to be
found in possession of any agricultural inputs in excess of what the farmers
need, unlawful sale, purchase and possession of agricultural produce or
contracted crop and the misuse of farm inputs.
In an interview on the sidelines of a strategic planning workshop in Mutare,
Chief Director in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate
and Rural Development, Obert Jiri said the online distribution application will
go a long way in addressing the abuse of inputs.
“In previous seasons, we have had several cases in which extension officers
were caught red handed and diverting inputs for personal gain at the expense of
the farmer. In light of that, the Ministry came up with a raft of measures, which
include an online input distribution application developed to monitor the
distribution,” he said.
Professor Jiri said the online application and tracking system will be rolled out
in full swing in the upcoming summer season after having covered 50 percent of
the programme in the previous season.

He said all farmers will be registered and a verifiable online register will trace
accountability using the farmer’s biometrics.
The digital tracking system will be taking Global Positioning System (GPS) co-
ordinates upon dispatch of inputs until they reach the final intended destination.
Reports will then be produced online and verified at every stage of inputs
distribution through their head office.
Prof Jiri said apart from online distribution surveillance, the Government has
adopted the agro-ecological matching system of inputs distribution for the
upcoming summer cropping season where regions 1 to 3 are to receive maize
seed and the remaining two regions to strictly focus on traditional grain
production.
“This year we are continuing with our agro-ecological matching inputs
distribution system. natural regions 1,2 and 3 will receive maize seed whereas in
region 4 and 5 they will strictly be receiving traditional grains inputs,” said Prof
Jiri.
In addition to ensuring production and food security, the Ministry has adopted
the Vision 2030 Agricultural Livelihoods Tracker (VALT) that will track the
upliftment of households and livelihoods through agricultural and rural
development programmes.
Through financial support from the African Development Bank in the
2023/2024 season, Government will increase the percentage of traditional grains
seed availability by ensuring that ARDA and GMB package standard traditional
grains as seed for the 2023/2024 season.
Pfumvudza is a concept aimed at climate proofing agriculture by adopting
conservation farming techniques and involves use of small plots and applying
the correct agronomic practices for higher returns.