GOKWE — Vice-President Joice Mujuru has castigated farmers who sell agricultural inputs and equipment availed to them by donors and government.Report by Blessed Mhlanga, Staff Reporter
In a speech read on her behalf by Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development permanent secretary Ngoni Masoka in Chirima village during the Seed Co National Crop Farming Competition awards presentation at the weekend, Mujuru said such behaviour could not be condoned.
“Don’t go around selling inputs, generators, grinding mills and other equipment donated or given to you by government or farming partners. You should use these things to improve your lives and of those in your community,” she said.
Mujuru said this had affected agricultural output, especially in relation to production of maize where the country had now been overtaken by Malawi.
Acknowledging constraints faced by government in assisting small-scale farmers, the Vice- President hailed the partnership between the Agricultural Technical and Extension Services (Agritex) and Seed Co, which has been running since 1983.
“The government, through Agritex, does provide agricultural technical and extension services which are very critical if farmers are to maximise productivity,” she said.
“However, resources availed by government need to be complemented by the private sector.”
Seed Co, which has been operating in the country for 72 years, honoured eight top provincial farmers who competed for the top award in the Premier Farmer of the Year, which was won by Ambulance Ncube of Gokwe, Midlands.
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Ncube for his efforts walked away with a new Holland TT55 tractor, while second runner-up Ottilia Kandira of Mashonaland East received a grinding mill, diesel generator and cash.
