By Dumisani Ndlovu
As the farming season progresses, officials who misuse government-funded agricultural inputs will face blacklisting, while ward committee members implicated in similar misconduct will be banned. This decisive action comes as the government aims to ensure that 50 percent of the free inputs for the current cropping season reach 3.5 million targeted households by mid-November.
For the 2024/25 Summer Season, the government plans to boost cereal production to 3.3 metric tonnes (mt) and pulses to 819,500 mt, a substantial increase from the 744,271 mt recorded during the drought-affected 2023/2024 season caused by El Niño. Overall production volumes for major crops are projected to rise dramatically, from a mere 915,000 mt to over 4 million mt, marking a 347 percent increase.
Following the weekly Cabinet meeting, Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr. Jenfan Muswere briefed the media on the progress of summer crops marketing, the food security outlook extending to March 2025, and plans for winter and summer crop production for the upcoming season.
“Under the Presidential Input Schemes, 91 percent of the targeted 9.5 million plots have been prepared by 86 percent of the 3.5 million households,” Muswere reported. He assured that all beneficiaries would receive 50 percent of their inputs by November 24, 2024.
To combat input abuse, the government is implementing several measures, including blacklisting any officials found guilty of misconduct and banning ward committees involved in such abuses. An improved Standard Operating Procedure with clear role definitions will also be established to enhance accountability.
As part of ongoing efforts, the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) has already received 20,148 mt of maize, soya beans, sorghum, and sunflower from the prior season, while the private sector has imported 974,658 mt of maize, wheat, and wheat flour since April 1 this year. Additionally, the government has imported 39,916 mt of maize, contributing to a total Strategic Grain Reserve stock of 244,296 mt.
Dr. Muswere highlighted that since February, the government has distributed 197,628.796 mt of grain to vulnerable households as part of the Food Deficit Mitigation Program and provided 17,421 mt of mealie-meal to schools through the Emergency Schools Feeding Program, ensuring students receive nutritious meals during the school week.
In a remarkable achievement, a record 518,502 mt of wheat have been harvested across 106,238 hectares as of November 1, surpassing the previous year’s total of 465,546 mt. Of this amount, 75,000 mt have already been delivered to the GMB, a testament to the strategic planning and execution by President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his administration. Harvesting is ongoing with over 291 configured combine harvesters deployed, and more than 550,000 mt of wheat is still expected.
The National Enhanced Agricultural Productivity Scheme aims to establish 52,500 hectares for maize, soybean, traditional grains, and sunflower, with a goal of producing 256,000 mt. The private sector has also committed to funding the establishment of 95,046 hectares for maize, soya beans, potatoes, sugar beans, and sunflower cultivation.
Moreover, the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) plans to plant 100,000 hectares of maize and 50,000 hectares of traditional grains, while private sector support is projected to help 418,800 farmers plant 270,000 hectares of cotton this season. For tobacco, the target production is set at 300 million kilograms, with over 117,000 growers already registered.
Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr. Jenfan Muswere
