The Herald (Harare)
5 November 2009
Harare — OVER 1 200 communal farmers in Mhondoro Ngezi yesterday received inputs under the Food and Agriculture Organisation co-ordinated Smallholder Emergency Support Programme.
The inputs comprising 15kg of maize seed, 50kg of Compound D and two bags of Ammonium Nitrate fertilizers were distributed by Sustainable Agriculture Trust.
Beneficiaries were mostly those practising conservation agriculture.
SAT supervisor Mr Stanley Mukuramombe said his organisation would distribute inputs to households in the 10 wards of Mhondoro.
"We want to encourage conservation agriculture because it has many advantages over the traditional way of preparing land using ploughs.
"Those who qualified for the project had to show their state of preparedness by making land preparations," he said.
Preparing the land for conservation agriculture requires digging holes in the ground to be used as planting stations.
Mr Mukuramombe said Mhondoro farmers had shown interest in the farming method since they were taught the advantages of the technique.
Soils in this area are depleted and some farmers do not have draught power to till their land, therefore, they become the best candidates for conservation agriculture.
"It is their first time and they are anxious to see the outcome of the technique," he said.
Mhondoro Member of the House of Assembly Cde Bright Matonga, who witnessed the distribution of the inputs, said he was happy the process was not politicised.
"There is so much excitement among the farmers and nearly everyone is benefiting.
"This area is productive and with seed and fertilizers, there is no doubt farmers are going to make a meaningful contribution towards food security," Cde Matonga said.
He applauded the intervention of Agritex in assisting beneficiaries with technical advice.
"There are going to be training demonstrations and these will ensure inputs are not put to waste.
"There should be many sponsors in the agricultural sector and (with such support) we will revive the economy," said Cde Matonga.
One of the farmers who received the seed and fertilizer Mr Philip Matariro said the inputs had come at the right time although the rains had been late in falling.
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