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By Joyce Mukucha
Farmers have so far delivered more than one million metric tonnes of grains to the Grain Marketing Board(GMB), a phenomenal increase from last cropping season comparative deliveries.
In her post Cabinet briefing yesterday, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa said Cumulatively, 227 000 metric tonnes of wheat have been delivered to date.
“The Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Honourable Dr Anxious Masuka, presented the Update on the Grain Marketing and Summer Production Season, which was adopted by Cabinet.
“Regarding the ongoing marketing of grain, a total of 1, 293 million metric tonnes of grain comprising maize, soya beans, wheat and traditional grains have so far been delivered to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB), which is a phenomenal increase from last years comparative deliveries of 327 446 metric tonnes,” she said.
Regarding preparations for the summer grains production season, she said, efforts were being made to attain a plethora of targets.
“Work is on-going to attain the following targets for the season: 2 million hectares of maize; 70 000 hectares of soyabean; and 655 000 hectares of traditional grains.”
Concerning Inputs distribution for the Climate-Proofed Presidential Pfumvudza/Intwasa inputs Supply Scheme is in full swing across the country, Minister Mutsvangwa said the inputs distribution under the National Enhanced Agriculture Productivity Scheme is being accelerated with many households embracing the programme.
“Cabinet is pleased to advise that subscription for the Climate-Proofed Presidential Inputs Pfumvudza/Intwasa Suppy Scheme has been overwhelming, with 2.484 million households already rolling out the programme, compared to the 1.5 million which were rolled out at the same time last year.”
It has been highlighted that following submissions from the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Cabinet took the strategic decision to include sunflower and cotton as part of the countrys oil seeds basket, in order to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change.
“Resultantly, the targeted hectarage for sunflower and cotton has been reviewed upwards.”
Meanwhile, a total of 114 721 tobacco growers have registered for the 2021/2022 season, compared to 124 943 growers who had registered during the same period last season.
“To date, the total area planted is 31 percent above that planted last season. There are 345 new growers.”