MASVINGO province is targeting more than 300 000 hectares for winter maize production in Chiredzi as the country moves towards ensuring food security.
This comes at a time when the government has engaged sugarcane farmers in Chiredzi to take part in the winter maize production initiative meant to ease food shortages in the country.
The Minister Of State for Masvingo province, Ezra Chadzamira said, the programme will be funded by the government under the Command Agriculture Initiative and will expand to traditional grains.
“The government has identified Masvingo province as the potential hub for maize production. We are engaging you as sugarcane farmers to assist with irrigable land for winter maize and the program will be funded by the government,” said honorable Chadzamira.
Farmers in the province have welcomed the initiative but appealed for urgent support in terms of inputs and mechanisation equipment.
“The Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labor, and Social Welfare, Honourable Lovemore Matuke said farmers must utilize the land for maximum production to save the country from importing grain,” said one farmer.
Honorable Lovemore Matuke said; “It is a pity that we continue to import grain despite having the necessary resources to produce a surplus. It is time us as Zimbabweans, as farmers, stand up and utilize our land for food security”
Last year Masvingo Development Trust in partnership with Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe produced more than 1100 tonnes of maize under winter maize with the produce being distributed in the province.
