The Sunday News
THE 2014/15 summer season is projected for growth after Government and other stakeholders indicated they had started mobilising up to $300 million to support farmers with inputs and other necessities to ensure a successful farming season.
The anticipation for a successful season has also been heightened by weather experts who have forecast that the country will likely receive above normal rainfall this coming summer season.
The National Social Security Authority announced that it would increase its support for agriculture this year from $10 million to $15 million to back the sector seen as the main driver of the economy.
NSSA general manager, Mr James Matiza, told a Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries meeting in Bulawayo on Friday last week that the company had been channelling around $10 million into the sector every year.
“But this year we are going to increase the funding to $15 million,” said Mr Matiza
The move by NSSA comes days after Government also announced that it was mobilising more than $252 million under a Presidential Input Scheme meant for the 2014/15 agriculture season.
Under the facility, Finance and Economic Development Minister Cde Patrick Chinamasa said Government would capacitate 1 600 000 communal, old resettlement, former small scale purchase areas and A1 households to be self-sufficient in food through provision of agricultural inputs valued at $184,8 million.
“Small grain seed packs will also draw from re-packaging of stocks delivered to the GMB estimated at 2 534 tonnes,” said Cde Chinamasa on Thursday last week when he presented his Mid-Term Fiscal Review statement.
He said the inputs package targeted at grain producers, both maize and small grains, valued at around $115,5 per household and would comprise 10 kilogrammes of seed, 50 kilogrammes of double compound D and 50 kilogrammes of Ammonium Nitrate.
Cde Chinamasa added that under the scheme Government was also targeting support for cotton farmers to boost production of the crop which has gone down over the years.
“Therefore, an input pack for about 300 000 cotton farmers will be availed to cover half a hectare of cotton. The cotton input pack, valued at $33 per household, will comprise the following 10 kilogrammes of seed, ½ kg Carbaryl, ½ litre Karate, 5ml Acaricide and 50 grammes Acenark.”
This, added Cde Chinamasa, would raise hectarage by 150 000, resulting in additional output of about 90 000 tonnes of cotton valued at $45 million.
On livestock, Cde Chinamasa said the package would target 1 600 000 household livestock farmers.
“The package will be valued at $32 per household and will comprise the following: 500g Tick grease, 1 litre of De-wormer; and 500ml Wound Remedy.”
The Government also indicated that it would support soya beans farmers adding that it hoped this would be a success as it had a good working relationship with input suppliers.
“Already, obligations related to outstanding debts to input suppliers have been extinguished through a combination of both cash payments and Treasury Bill issuance to the tune of $27,4 million, with a further $30 million in TBs being issued in consultation with CBZ.”
Cde Chinamasa said in relation to A2 farmers the central bank was engaging banks to establish credit facilities under direct bank credit extension to the farmer.
“Furthermore, contract farming arrangements will also be available to finance such crops as tobacco, cotton, soya beans, barley among others.”
He added that shipment for the agriculture equipment under a $98,6 million had started.
“I am pleased to report to Honourable Members that shipments under the first tranche of $38,6 million have commenced. Already, equipment worth $1,1 million has been received in the country, with the balance of equipment and machinery under the first tranche expected by end of October 2014, in time for the 2014/15 agricultural season.
Under this Facility, Agribank has been designated as the Agent Bank through which interested and qualifying farmers will access equipment through hire purchase arrangements.”
