Cotton inputs scheme targets 520k households

AT least 520 000 households in marginalised areas will receive cotton inputs under the climate-proofed Pfumvudza agricultural cotton scheme aimed at increasing production.

At least 387 000 households benefited from inputs under the Presidential Cotton Inputs scheme last season while tonnage remained below a tonne per hectare.

Following the successful roll-out of the scheme on maize and other small grains in the past two summer cropping seasons, Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka said the scheme will be rolled out to benefit at least 521 000 households as Cottco Zimbabwe was a catalytic agent for rural development and industrialisation.

He was speaking last Friday during the tour of Chegutu Grain Marketing Board (GMB) depots and Kadoma Cottco ginnery.

“The President (Mnangagwa) is emphasising under Vision 2030 that no one and no place should be left behind and all our agricultural projects and activities must be centred on the household and village.

“Zimbabwe is an Agro-based economy and it is through agriculture that we uplift the poor and mainstream them into the main economy for them to participate in Vision 2030.

“This is why we have eight Presidential Input Schemes, hence cotton production which has led to the growth of many areas into towns including Gokwe is part of the President’s Vision for development to be promoted.

“We will introduce the Pfumvudza Cotton Input Scheme which will see more families benefit from cotton inputs but reduce the area planted. We learnt that high yields on small portions are possible through Pfumvudza/Intwasa,” he said.

Dr Masuka added that through the new scheme, the Government will distribute inputs proportionally hence adjusting seed and other inputs to suit the number of fertilisers which is the most costly input in farming production.

Zimbabwe’s communal dryland maize production picked up from 0,4 tonnes per hectare to an average of 4,2 tonnes and the roll-over to cotton production will benefit two million people in marginalised areas of the country in terms of rainfall.

“We are targeting 100 percent Pfumvudza cotton this year. A bag of cotton seed will be reduced to 10kg per household and the savings will support an additional 100 000 households thus benefiting a total of at least 520 000 households up from 387 000 out of the same inputs given last year.

“We then expect to reach at least 250 000 to 300 000 metric tonnes,” he added.

Out of the 387 000 supported last year, the nation expects an average of 150 000 metric tonnes, but through Pfumvudza Cotton Input, the nation expects at least a tonne per hectare from this year onwards.

Under the auspicious drive, Agritex officers are expected to work hand-in-glove with Cottco officials and farmers for a successful Cotton production turnover.

And the farmers’ training on the turn-around cotton production strategy will run concurrently with the Pfumvudza/Intwasa scheme.

The Government is now working on modalities to have inputs delivered to farmers by mid-September including wool packs which are currently in short supply due to Covid-19 restrictions.

At least 350 000 additional wool packs have been procured from India, but the current disruptions in South Africa have affected the delivery of the packs.-herald.l.zw