(HERALD) Government sets cropping targets

Government sets cropping targets
Masvingo Bureau

GOVERNMENT has set National Strategic Cropping Targets for the forthcoming main agricultural season, a move that will result in nearly 3,5 million hectares being put under different crops — including maize — to boost food security. The Minister of Agriculture, Cde Rugare Gumbo, said out of the targeted hectarage, about two million hectares would be for maize while other critical crops like cotton, tobacco, oilseeds and sugarcane, have targeted hectarages ranging from 56 000 to 400 000 hectares.

Officially opening the Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union annual congress in Masvingo on Thursday, Cde Gumbo said Government would leave no stone unturned to ensure the country achieves food security.

"In line with the need to achieve food security, Government has approved the National Strategic Cropping Targets for the 2007-2008 season to include two million hectares of maize, 400 000 hectares of small grains, 400 000 hectares of cotton, 400 000 hectares of oilseeds (soya bean and groundnuts), 60 000 hectares of tobacco and 56 000 hectares of sugarcane.

"Horticulture, tea, coffee and jatropha will come on stream in the coming seasons — all crops have to contribute towards our food security," said Cde Gumbo.

He said, this year, the Government funding under the inputs support programmes would be prioritised according to the inherent agricultural potential of the country’s natural regions.

Cde Gumbo said support for maize farmers was going to be given to farmers in natural regions two and three and those with adequate irrigation while small grains would be restricted to marginal areas of natural regions four and five.

Government, he said, was also in the process of addressing challenges that were being perennially faced by farmers such as power outages, inadequate input supplies, and shortage of fuel, among others.

Cde Gumbo, however, expressed dismay over the continued under-utilisation of land in the country despite an array of Government-initiated support programmes aimed at improving the productivity of farmers.

It was also imperative for other stakeholders in the agricultural sector to actively play a role in making sure that the forthcoming season was a success as Government alone could not solve all the problems bedevilling agriculture.

"Banks and companies have been coming forward in support of the new farmers in a big way, including through contract arrangements. We (Government) will not expect anyone to sit on the fence and expect Government to finance agriculture on its own. In fact, we do not have any fences to sit on," said Cde Gumbo.

He urged farmers to unite and collectively advance their causes so that they do not continue to be short-changed and be taken advantage of.

The minister also allayed fears that Government wanted to limit farmers’ livestock throughout the country, saying all livestock sales must be done on a willing-seller, willing-buyer basis.

ZFU first vice president Mr Abdul Nyathi said this year’s congress had been a milestone because of the agreements and deals sealed.

He said farmers were pleased with the new arrangement under which inputs would be distributed to them through their respective unions as that would enable them to monitor their use.