TATENDA CHIKARA IN MASVINGO
Farmers in Chivi district in Masvingo Province are counting their losses after the government failed to provide adequate fertiliser under the Presidential Input Scheme.
They told Business Times this week that their crops were now turning yellow due to nutrient deficiency.
“We are happy to receive the good rains but things are not looking very good at this time as our crops are turning yellow. As a ward we only received 100 bags of Ammonia [nitrate] fertiliser which is not enough for every farmer,” a farmer who did not want to be named told Business Times, adding the district is now seeking help from the government before the “whole district is plunged into hunger”.
Another villager weighed in but could not rule out corruption.
“The situation here is serious, it has been raining non stop this side. Our village received only four bags of fertilisers, honestly can those [fertilisers] benefit more than 160 households? It’s actually a non-starter.
He added: “The government must intervene as a matter of urgency, we think some people are taking advantage of the other people here.”
Contacted for a comment, MP for Chivi Central, Ephraim Gwanongodza told Business Times that all wards were receiving fertiliser to mitigate leaching.
“We are aware of the situation, right now every ward is receiving top dressing fertilisers given to us by his Excellency the President [Emmerson Mnangagwa]. We were only having some challenges to reach some areas because some bridges were washed away by the rains but we are getting on top of the situation,” Gwanongodza said.
He also added that this assistance of top dressing fertiliser is going to enable farmers to get bumper harvests.
