Staff reporter

Farmers across the nation have applauded the Government for its steadfast efforts to improve agricultural production by welcoming measures aimed at ensuring that the economic environment is conducive for farmers to thrive.

This comes after the launch of an online platform by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development to curb Pfumvudza/Intwasa inputs abuse, an initiative aligned with National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) which places particular emphasis on agricultural mechanization and modernisation.

Farmers who spoke to this publication commended the Government for its continued resilience in resuscitating the agricultural sector.

"Government is doing a great job. This initiative will make sure that the Pfumvudza/Intwasa inputs are distributed fairly and equally to all farmers. This gives us so much hope, Zimbabwe is likely to change for the better as of next year. We are so grateful for the Pfumvudza/Intwasa scheme which was put in place by our Government", said Mr John Sekeramai, a small scale farmer from Mutoko.

The electronic input distribution application is envisaged to curb Pfumvudza/ Intwasa inputs abuse. Farmers who register to this application will have access to inputs through this platform. 

According to an observation by the Chief Directory Advisory and Rural Development Services ( ARDAS), 961 992 have registered so far.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa during his address at the burial of the late national hero, Cde Nkomo said that the inputs for Pfumvudza/Intwasa were already being distributed across the country. He assured commercial farmers that banks were ready to roll out support schemes to those faithfully servicing their loans.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development recently approved proposal by CBZ Agro-Yield, a subsidiary of CBZ holdings to pay contracted farmers in forex, a move set to cushion farmers who are struggling to repay loans amid high inflation rates.