(HERALD) Govt audits sugarcane plots
Govt audits sugarcane plotsMasvingo Bureau
Government has embarked on a comprehensive audit of sugarcane plots allocated to thousands of farmers under the land reform programme in Chiredzi. The State seeks to stem under-utilisation of land and familiarise itself with challenges facing the farmers.
Most resettled sugarcane farmers in Chiredzi, Triangle and Mkwasine in the Lowveld have been operating below capacity while others abandoned their plots altogether due to operational constraints.
Sugarcane farming is capital intensive and many resettled farmers have been grappling with shortages of funding and equipment.
Masvingo Governor and Resident Minister Titus Maluleke last Friday said: "We had to embark on the land audit to familiarise ourselves with the extent to which our new farmers are grappling with the challenges of sugarcane.
"It is also important to ensure there is no underutilisation of land allocated by Government because we want production.
"Quite a number of farms are being underutilised, so its either we repossess them for re-allocation or we assist the farmers."
He said Government was devising ways of capacitating the farmersd to consolidate the land reform programme.
The governor said they wanted struggling farmers to opt for contract farming or joint ventures with capital-rich individuals.
Cane farmers’ associations in the Lowveld have repeatedly exhorted Government to support them in the manner that tobacco and cotton are backed by various inputs facilities, equipment and training schemes.
Labels: LAND AUDIT, MDC, NEOCOLONIALISM, SUGAR CANE
posted by MrK @ 4:37 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home