The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube, Senior Reporter
THE Minister of State for Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs, Cde Richard Moyo, has called on the Binga community to support the Government initiated Pfumvudza/Gatshompo concept so as to improve yields in the 2020/21 farming season.
President Mnangagwa recently launched the Agricultural and Food Systems Transformation Strategy that seeks to achieve a US$8,5 billion agriculture economy by 2025 by giving emphasis on the Pfumvudza/Gatshompo cropping strategy.
Speaking during a Government food distribution exercise in Binga yesterday, Cde Moyo, who is also the Zanu-PF Matabeleland North provincial chairperson said the concept was key in improving the national yield, with Government setting a mechanisation programme to support the strategy. “Next week we will be launching the mechanisation programme, I call upon traditional leaders to encourage their communities to adopt this concept and register with the Agritex officers so that they benefit in the mechanisation programme,” said Cde Moyo.
He implored the Binga community to take advantage of the Government supported revival of the Bulawayo Kraal noting that once fully utilised the project has the capability of changing the face of the province.
“As you all know Bulawayo Kraal has now started to operate, the irrigation pipes are being installed and planting has begun as we speak. There is an issue on how the community is going to benefit, the Government is working hard to fix this, an investor has been identified to work with Government and Arda.
“Do not think that people will be cheated, Government does not operate like that. Work has already started at the facility, as we speak we have completed the planting of the winter wheat crop, to add on to that there will be various crops which will be planted to cover 400 hectares but it will be continually expanded depending on how the Government works with the community, our aim is to reach 15 000 hectares,” he said.
Cde Moyo further emphasised on Arda giving first preference to locals in terms of employment, saying traditional leaders should not allow the authorities sneaking people from outside the district.
“That project once completed and the entire 15 000 hectares is planted it will change the face of the entire Matabeleland North Province. I was talking to people from Arda last time I was here with VP Chiwenga and I enquired whether they have started employing children from this community and they confirmed that they have employed over hundred locals. I call upon the local traditional leadership not to allow Arda to come with people from outside this district, first preference should be given to people from Binga,” he said.
Turning to the food distribution, Cde Moyo said during Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga’s last visit to the district, senior Zanu-PF members had noted that the district had been hard hit by the drought hence most people were in need of food assistance. “As you know we are always here in Binga, last time I came with VP Chiwenga. Zanu-PF leadership managed to talk to VP Chiwenga where they complained about hunger here in Binga especially the areas surrounding Bulawayo Kraal as there was no yield during the last farming season as the irrigation was not operating.
“The Zanu-PF Central Committee members from the district requested for food from the Vice-President which is the food I am here to hand over. VP Chiwenga liaised with President Mnangagwa who in turn advised the Vice- President to act with vigour to bring food here before the situation further deteriorates,” said Cde Moyo.
The consignment included 20 tonnes of maize, 33 tonnes mealie meal and 30 tonnes rice.
