Saturday, 03 November 2012 20:11
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Faith MhanduTraditional leaders have hailed the Presidential Well-wishers’ Special Inputs Scheme (PWWSAIS) as a positive development that will go a long way in ensuring food security.
Speaking at yesterday’s launch, the president of the Chiefs’ Council, Chief Fortune Charumbira, noted that the project had the capacity to ensure that the country regains its breadbasket status.However, Chief Charumbira warned political leaders against taking over the distribution of the inputs as there “is a tendency by some of them to use the inputs as campaigning tools.”“As we are approaching elections, I urge politicians to desist from taking over the distribution of the inputs as if they are the ones who sourced them. Politicians should let chiefs be at the forefront of distributing the inputs in a fair manner. On the other hand, chiefs should also not grab all the inputs for themselves but distribute them fairly because they are for the people,” he said.
Chief Charumbira lauded President Mugabe for unveiling the inputs scheme timeously.“As chiefs we are very grateful for the timely supply of inputs by the President as this will ensure that farmers meet their planting deadlines. The President’s actions are different from those who are aspiring to take his position since they have failed the majority of Zimbabweans. The rainy season has already commenced yet Treasury has not come up with anything for the farmers,” he said.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Dr Joseph Made expressed gratitude for President Mugabe’s continuous support towards agriculture. “I am grateful that the President has once again supported agriculture this year considering that the Ministry of Finance seems not to be interested in availing inputs this season. We are expecting this scheme launch-ed today to assist at least 900 000 households. “It is clear to everyone now that Zanu-PF alone is mobilising agriculture resources,” said Dr Made.
Dr Made added that the programme was testimony to President Mugabe’s passion for agriculture, which is the backbone of the country’s economy.“The Presidential Well-wishers’ Special Agricultural Inputs Scheme is a clear demonstration of His Excellency’s commitment to the goal of ensuring that every household in Zimbabwe has enough safe and nutritious food,” he said.
“It is through programmes such as the Presidential Inputs Scheme that we can transform our agriculture to be production oriented, guarantee food security as well as unlock the poverty trap to which our people were condemned by the colonial system.“Our efforts to guarantee our hard-won independence and freedom through a vibrant agricultural sector that is build upon the principle of equitable distribution of land have invited the ire of the country’s detractors.
Besides the illegal sanctions imposed by the West over the last decade, we have witnessed a marked decrease of donor support to the agriculture sector as our detractors hope that our people will vote with their stomachs in the future elections.”Dr Made added that for the 2012/13 agricultural season, the estimated total funding requirements for input, seed and agro-chemicals as well as working capital hits the US$800 million mark.
“This amount is adequate to cover 2,63 million hectares,” he said. Last year, President Mugabe disbursed inputs worth over US$27 million.
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Article publié le Monday, November 5, 2012