The Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) has condemned the misuse of inputs under the Pfumvudza/Intwasa and National Enhanced Agricultural Productivity Scheme (NEAPS), calling for stricter penalties for offenders.
According to Statutory Instrument 79 of 2017, inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, and chemicals provided through these programs must be used solely for their intended purposes, with all contracted produce delivered to designated buyers.
Those found diverting inputs could face fines up to level four, which includes imprisonment for up to three months, a fine, or both. Additionally, any misused inputs or illegally sold produce may be confiscated.
AMA CEO Clever Isaya told <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/ama-decries-inputs-abuse-and-side-marketing/">The Herald</a> that the abuse of agricultural inputs undermines the Government’s efforts to ensure food security, disrupts market stability, and diminishes the economic potential of the agriculture sector. He said:
<blockquote>
Inputs provided under these schemes are a national investment in food security and agricultural resilience. Their misuse not only jeopardises household food security but also reduces the overall agricultural productivity needed to feed the nation.
AMA has established regional offices across the country to help farmers access information on proper marketing channels and compliance requirements.
This move aims to ensure that all farmers from communal to commercial, understand their obligations under the law and the economic impact of non-compliance.
</blockquote>
Programmes like Pfumvudza/Intwasa assist small-holder farmers while NEAPS, on the other hand, enables commercial-scale farming by providing financial and material support.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development Permanent Secretary, Obert Jiri, recently said that individuals who sell or distribute inputs received under the climate-proofed Presidential Inputs Scheme (Pfumvudza) will face arrest.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

The AMA is angry because people are using farming supplies in the wrong way. They want stricter rules and punishments for those who do this. People who misuse the supplies can go to jail or pay fines. It's important to use these supplies properly to make sure there is enough food. The AMA is helping farmers know how to follow the rules. Some programs help small farmers, while others support big farms. The government says anyone caught selling these supplies will get in trouble.

AMA Calls For Stricter Penalties To Combat Abuse of Government Farming Inputs

Zimbabwean farmers are concerned about high input prices at distributor shops, which may hinder production and force them to use uncertified seeds, potentially affecting yields.
A snap survey by <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/farmers-decry-high-inputs-cost/">Chronicle</a> in Bulawayo revealed maize seed prices between US$37 and US$50 for a 10kg bag, depending on the variety.
Fertilisers were priced around US$30 for a 50kg bag of compound D and US$36 for ammonium nitrate.
Farmers have warned that the high prices of seeds will force many to resort to uncertified seeds, negatively impacting output.
A farmer who only identified herself as Mrs Ncube, input costs are higher than they can afford, particularly as the country recovers from the El-Nino-induced drought. She said:
<blockquote>
Not many of us will be able to afford proper and enough inputs considering that people are already suffering from El Nino effects where much funds are channelled towards essential cereals. Many people will resort to other plans like planting uncertified seed.
It’s only that we had to focus on buying food. In the past we used to buy seed before the rains when it would be cheaper, but this year things changed because of the drought.
</blockquote>
Mrs Ncube added that rural farmers traditionally relied on manure as a natural fertiliser. However, due to widespread livestock deaths across various parts of the country, many farmers will now be forced to purchase commercial fertilisers instead.
Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) Secretary General Paul Zakariya expressed concern over the skyrocketing prices of agricultural inputs, describing it as deeply troubling.
He said that these high costs are driving up production expenses and shrinking profit margins for farmers.
Zakariya called for all stakeholders in the agricultural sector to work together in order to restore stability and fairness to the marketplace.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Farmers in Zimbabwe are worried because the prices of seeds and fertilizers are going up. The high costs might make it hard for them to produce enough crops. Some farmers may have to use uncertified seeds, which may not grow well. Because of a drought, many farmers can't afford the expensive inputs. The Zimbabwe Farmers Union is also concerned about the high prices. They want everyone in the agricultural sector to work together to make things fairer for the farmers. Farmers are struggling to afford what they need to grow crops.

Farmers In Zimbabwe Raise Alarm Over Rising Input Costs

A Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (COTTCO) employee has been sentenced to nine months in jail for stealing Presidential Agricultural Inputs and attempting to sell them.
Munyaradzi Timire (41) of Shashe Village, Chief Bere in Mashav was a Cottco Coordinator in Mashava when he committed the offence.
Timire was arrested by detectives while on his way to Masvingo to sell the inputs.
The herbicides which Timire stole from COTTCO were valued at US$1 050 and meant for distribution to the farmers in Summerton Area in Mashava.
Timire was sentenced to nine months in prison by Masvingo Magistrate Philiip Makondo.
Three months of the sentence were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
The remaining six months were wholly suspended on condition that he performs 210 hours of community service.
Nickson Chamisa appeared for the State. | <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/cottco-employee-jailed-9-months-for-stealing-presidential-agricultural-inputs/">Chronicle</a>

COTTCO Employee Gets Wholly Suspended Jail Term For Stealing Herbicides

Village heads from Ward 37 in Gutu Central constituency reportedly refused to receive 200 bags of Compound D fertiliser brought for distribution under the Presidential Inputs Scheme by the local councillor.
The Mirror reported that the distribution was supposed to happen at Tachi Business Center near Mukaro on Thursday but the lorry was forced to return with its load.
The local councillor, Gabriel Mapepa, confirmed the incident but accused “drunk youths” of disrupting the distribution process.
However, The Mirror reported sources as saying it was the village heads who came together and decided to refuse the fertiliser.
They said Mapepa had allocated more bags to his home which is called Chipangane B.
After the councillor had briefed the village heads about the distribution modalities, they allegedly refused to accept the fertiliser.
They came from the meeting and told the villagers to reject the fertiliser until the councillor brought the missing bags that had been allocated to Chipangane B.
According to The Mirror, Ward 37 is divided into two distribution centres, one at Tachi which is Chipangane A and another near Gutu Mission which is Chipangane B. Said Mapepa:
<blockquote>
We stopped the distribution yesterday because some rowdy youths disrupted the meeting. It was not the village heads who rejected the inputs.
</blockquote>
Mapepa reportedly distributed 290 bags to his home area and 200 to Tachi and four villagers were supposed to share a bag.
The councillor is accused of trying to woo voters in the upper part of the ward in areas around the Gutu mission which is occupied by the working class who largely support the opposition.
A disgruntled villager claimed that last year almost 20 bags of fertilizer from the Presidential input scheme disappeared and Mapepa failed to account for them. | <a href="https://masvingomirror.com/village-heads-reject-presidential-inputs/">The Mirror</a>

Gutu Village Heads Reject Free Presidential Inputs

Farmers have expressed concern over high input costs, especially fertiliser, and have implored the government to intervene and eliminate “profiteering” by businesses.
<a href="https://businesstimes.co.zw/concern-over-high-farming-input-costs/">Business Times</a> has established that a 50kg bag of top dressing fertiliser is now selling at US$60, a 33% increase from US$45 last year.
The price of basal fertiliser has also gone up by almost 50% to between US$35-45 per 50kg from around US$25-30 last season.
Zimbabwe National Farmers Union (ZNFU) secretary general, Stewart Mubonderi called for “sensible pricing”. He said:
<blockquote>
We have an excessive profiteering problem in our nation, where individuals want to earn a lot of money in one night, but there will be very few buyers due to the high prices.
So we ask the corporations doing this to be sensible and provide farmers with fair pricing, and also the government to engage them constructively and ensure that these unwarranted price increases we are seeing are stopped and avoided.
</blockquote>
The president of the Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union (ZCFU), Shadreck Makombe, said the high input prices would negatively affect the 2022/23 season. Makombe said:
<blockquote>
There is a need for the government to intervene in the short term through targeted and time limited input subsidies so as to alleviate the plight of vulnerable farmers and to ensure affordable and viable inputs.
It [the price of diesel] has been going down. We would have expected the prices of goods to also go down in tandem with the going down of diesel, which is one of the major inputs in prices.
Unfortunately it’s not happening that way. So at the end of the day farmers are the ones who are suffering.
</blockquote>
Makombe proposed that manufacturers of farming inputs deal directly with farmers to eliminate middlemen in order to reduce the high prices.

Pfumvudza Latest News

Latest Jobs