Staff Reporter

Government has accelerated the development of rural areas with a view to improving lives of the rural folks who constitute about 70% of the total population in the country, said a senior Government official.

Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development, Hon David Mharapira said through Rural Development 8.0, rural lives were set to transform for the better.

“Presidential cotton input scheme will target 300 000 farmers, presidential borehole scheme which was launched in Mangwe, will see boreholes drilled within a 1km radius in villages, nutritional garden which will use the drip irrigation system, Presidential poultry scheme which was recently launched in Masvingo whereby each family received 10 roadrunners.

“The President also launched the Pfumvudza/lntwasa scheme which will see farmers receive inputs for cotton, wheat and grain. The goat scheme which I am here for, will see every villager receiving goats from the Presidential scheme,” said.

Mharapira further said, this was in line with the national vision of living no one and no place behind in development.

“This will help us in reaching our targets whilst working together. Rural Development 8.0 is set to empower all of you through the Presidential scheme,” said Mharapira.

Chief Matike of Litumba praised the President for the schemes which have brought empowerment to the rural folks.

“We thank the President for these projects as they will help us through empowerment. Goat rearing is a huge business here in Beitbridge, therefore, we are set to benefit immensely from it,” Chief Matike said.

One of the villagers, Joseph Marimo, applauded the Presidential scheme saying that it came at a time when they were preparing for the 2022 -2023 farming season.

“Our President is improving our lives through agriculture. We can grow small grain and rear goats which will empower us. We would like to thank the President also for giving us these inputs in time,” Marimo said.

Meanwhile, farmers have already started reaping benefits of the inputs scheme. The Ministry of Agriculture has predicted a bumper harvest for wheat. The Minister said the nation had wheat reserves for three months whilst grain reserves are expected to last for 11.6 months.

This comes at a time when the Second Republic has been working hard to boost agricultural output and ensure food security, while also boosting incomes for farmers.