By Tendai Matunhu

Citizens have applauded Governments move to downsize farms of individuals with large and underutilised land.

One citizen who spoke to this publication on condition of anonymity said it was a welcome move one that should improve yields.

“I am grateful to Government for this move, it was long overdue because we were noticing idle land. Through this downsizing I am sure farmers and potential farmers will be able to manage their land and farm.

“At least if more people get land they will be able to feed their families and the nation as well if they have excess. This will not only help boost the country’s food security. This move is sure to stabilise investment by farmers so as to boost the country’s economic recovery,” he said.

Commenting on the issue one netizen Elijah Chihota said, “This is a welcome development as more land will be freed and other beneficiaries will be allocated the released land. Now with advanced crop farming, the country will be food sufficient.”

A land audit was carried out simultaneously in all eight provinces and it started in 2018 so as to identify land utilisation patterns and optimal farming activities which influence appropriate policies for increased agricultural productivity, poverty alleviation and sustainable utilisation of agricultural land.

President Mnangagwa has always reiterated that as soon as the full land audit report was out, Government would repossess some of those farms and allocate them to others in need of land.