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By Joyce Mukucha
The Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa said preparations for the summer cropping season were now at an advanced stage with all inputs for farmers including seed and fertilizer available.
She said this during a post Cabinet briefing this Tuesday encouraging farmers to collect seed from SeedCo and K2 companies.
“Cabinet received an update on the wheat marketing and summer crops production season, which was presented by the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Honourable Dr Anxious Masuka.
“On CBZ Agro-Yield/Command Agriculture Programme preparations for the summer cropping season, the nation is advised that currently CBZ Agro-Yield has 18 000 metric tonnes and 15 000 metric tonnes of basal and top-dressing fertilizers, respectively. Seed is adequately available,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
She added that CBZ was in the process of finalising inputs supply agreements with Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) Seeds, Syngenta and Torcek.
Minister Mutsvangwa also advised the nation that as of 24 October 2021, Grain intake stood at 1 164 274 metric tonnes, comprising 83 684 metric tonnes of wheat and 1 080 590 metric tonnes of maize, soyabeans and traditional grains.
Concerning the planting of tobacco, Minister Mutsvangwa said some 105 528 farmers have registered for the 2021/22 tobacco season compared to 102 098 farmers that had registered at the same time last year, representing a 3% increase.
“The area planted is 28% above that planted last year, because of an enlarged irrigated crop.”
Meanwhile, seed cotton marketing has tailed-off with very few common buying points still to conclude transactions.
“Seed cotton deliveries to the six contractors have reached 132 132 384 kg compared to 83 059 898 kg last year, representing a 59.1% increase. The value of the seed cotton delivered to date is ZW$6.384 billion. COTTCO has paid a total of ZW$2.9 billion to farmers, including US$ 3 912 500.00.”
Payments to date, she said, are 39% of total requirement.
“Farmers are yet to be paid a total of ZW$3.466 billion for seed cotton delivered to COTTCO during the 2020/2021 season. As at 25 October 2021, Treasury had availed ZW$500 million towards payment of cotton farmers. The payment process has been set in motion.”
Regarding the Presidential Climate-Proofed Cotton Pfumvudza/Intwasa Scheme for the 2021/2022 season, the minister said the trained farmers are 36% of the targeted 520 000 growers.
She pointed out that outstanding payments were slowing uptake of cotton production but efforts are being made to ensure inputs delivery.
“Measures are being put in place to expedite inputs deliveries in particular the first tranche comprising seed, basal fertilizer and chemicals.”