Masvingo surpasses 2000ha wheat target

TATENDA CHIKARA IN CHIVI

Masvingo has surpassed the target set for winter wheat by about 200ha, the Provincial Affairs and Devolution minister, Ezra Chadzamira has said, in a boost for Zimbabwe’s drive to attain food security.

Government had set a target of 2000ha of planted wheat.

But, the province achieved 2 196ha this year.

“This has been a great achievement for our province and the momentum is encouraging as we aim to achieve food and nutrition security for our nation,” Chadzamira said at a field day in Chivi.

He urged all farmers under irrigation schemes to approach the State-owned lender, AFC, so that it can finance their agricultural enterprises.

“Lines of credit are open through AFC. So all irrigation schemes should approach the bank for financing of their agricultural enterprises. This is a government bank available to ease financial constraints for the farmers so that production occurs without any disturbance,” Chadzamira said.

A farmer from ward 26, Sarudzai Mazadzise, commended the government for establishing irrigation schemes, which has helped to sustain families.

“Here in Chivi it is a drought prone region so irrigation is helping us sustain our families. We get food from this irrigation (Banga) as well as money when we sell our crops,” Mazadzise said.

Another farmer told Business Times: “I would like to appreciate Banga irrigation. Here we grow beans, wheat, maize and many other crops.”

However, Ward 26 councillor Levvison Mubingi said there was a need for a bridge in the area.

“Apart from farmers battling to distribute their produce, school children can take up to two weeks without going to school because the river is too big,” Mubingi said.

“Here in ward 26 the Emergency Rehabilitation Programme came, and we rehabilitated roads. But a bridge was left out. We ask for assistance so that the Bridge is fixed because DDF told us that the funds they were given by the government were exhausted.’