Govt avails tractors to rural farmers

Bindura(Nehanda Guardian-New Ziana) -The government has availed 86 tractors to draught power stricken Mashonaland Central farmers for tillage in during 2019-20 farming season.

Announcing the development recently at Burira village in Dotito, Mt Darwin, Provincial Affairs Minister Monica Mavhunga said the move had been necessitated by the massive decimation of the cattle herd across the country since the beginning of the year.

In Mashonaland Central alone, at least 1 237 cattle were reported dead with the Veterinary Services department saying some cases might have gone unreported.

Mt Darwin district was been the worst affected followed by Mazowe, Bindura and Shamva.

Mavhunga said the tractors, 16 from the District Development Fund and 70 from the department of Mechanization would at least plough 1 875 hectares for 4 750 households.

“No one will die of hunger either this year or next year. The government led by President Emerson Mnangagwa is aware of farmers’ plight,” she said.

“It shall assist farmers with tillage services as well as seeds. It will also continue with its drought relief programme,” she said.

Besides providing tillage services, the government was also distributing agricultural inputs free of charge to rural and communal farmers under the 2019/20 Presidential Well Wisher’s Input programme.

The inputs range from seeds, fertilizers and herbicides.

The DDF would provide technical and supervisory support during the programme.

New Ziana