NEWS that the country is headed for yet another gloomy rain season for the second year running would have, under normal circumstances dampened the spirits of the nation and farmers alike, but this is Zimbabwe, a country on the rise.
In a period where everything is falling in place, the necessary apparatus to abate the predicted drought has been put in place through President Robert Mugabe’s US$28 million Presidential Well Wishers Input Scheme and the Government’s Framework for the 2015-16 summer cropping and livestock season.
It is this recent consolidation of efforts by President Mugabe and the Government via the framework that was recently approved by Cabinet to guide the 2015-16 summer cropping and livestock season that is without doubt a signal of the commitment by the Government to revive the economy through revitalisation of the agriculture sector.
The Presidential Scheme, will benefit over 300 000 small-scale farmers, mainly the elderly and orphans.
It has an objective of increasing yields and improving food security, a key cluster of Government’s economic blueprint, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim-ASSET).
During his recent State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Mugabe listed revitalisation of agriculture and the agro-processing value chain as integral to economic turnaround in a 10-Point Plan he unveiled during his address.
Zimbabwe has in the past few months undergone an economic transformation phase characterised by an influx of investors not only coming to seek investment opportunities, but to put their money into the economy.
It is imperative that this economic take-off era tangles with the concerted efforts being witnessed in the agriculture sector.
Despite operating under harsh conditions characterised by brutal effects of illegal economic sanctions and unfavourable weather that has left the farmer vulnerable, the Government has been consistent in its support of the agriculture sector.
This year, Government will support between 300 000 and 350 000 vulnerable households with between US$33 million and US$35 million.
On the other hand, outstanding money for grain deliveries to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) has already been availed by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.
So far, Government has already paid US$15 million.
In the next coming few weeks, the Reserve Bank will pay US$14 million to the farmers.
This will clear the outstanding payments for 2014 and 2015 maize deliveries.
“So when you calculate the support of the vulnerable for US$35 million, plus US$66 million, plus the US$15 million that has been sent to the Government, plus the US$15 million that has been committed to Agribank and the US$45 million that has been committed to the Agriculture Marketing Authority (AMA) — it is proof that Government is doing a lot (to support the agriculture sector),” says Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development, Dr Joseph Made.
Fertiliser companies have agreed to slash prices by 20 percent.
The Brazilians have partnered with Zimbabwe to capacitate farmers.
The Chinese have also expressed readiness to support Zimbabwe’s agriculture.
Chinese firm, China CAMC Engineering has already announced plans to revive operations at ARDA Mushumbi Pools by investing US$200 million to develop irrigation over the next five years.
The ARDA Mushumbi Pools project will see the Chinese constructing a dam that would irrigate about 1 000 hectares.
Under the proposed plan, China CAMC would also set up a cotton ginnery and a fruit-canning plant at Mushumbi.
At least 3 300 out-growers around the ARDA Mushumbi Pools estate will benefit from the mega project as they will be contracted to supply cotton for the ginnery that will be set up.
Giving an outline of the Cabinet Framework to guide the 2015-16 summer cropping and livestock season in the current edition of The Sunday Mail, Dr Made noted that preparations for this season are much better than in the past few years.
He said massive efforts are being made to resuscitate the cotton industry as it exemplifies what was set out in the 10-Point Plan.
The major highlights for the targeted crops this season are;
l Minimum of 1,5 million hectares for maize.
l 250 000 hectares for sorghum.
l 250 000 hectares for pearl millet.
l 250 000 for finger millet.
l 20 000 hectares for Irish potatoes.
l 50 000 hectares for sweet potatoes.
l 100 000 hectares for soya beans.
l 259 hectares for groundnuts.
“Other crops that we have left open include sugar beans, round nuts, cow peas and sunflower,” wrote Dr Made.
“The major entrant into the area of resuscitation will be cotton.
“Government has a target of 450 000 hectares.
“This is a major thrust which is consistent with the fact that we are taking over COTTCO.
“Discussions are already on course for the takeover.
“For crops like cotton, grown by 60 percent of the rural population, this is a viable crop for regions that may not grow seasonally because it is a drought resistant.”
With the economy all set for the major take-off, the support and commitment by President Mugabe and Government to the agriculture sector is just, but one of the many stimuli in the offing by the country’s leadership.
This economy will rise against all odds.
Let those with ears listen.