GOVERNMENT yesterday launched an ambitious $2,7 billion
agriculture “special” scheme towards the production of wheat at a time the
country is struggling to fund its response to the deadly COVID-19, which has
crippled the economies of the world’s most powerful countries.
Zimbabwe introduced the Command Agriculture scheme in 2016,
which also extended to wheat production, but allegations of corruption and
looting by top ruling party politicians rocked the project as it failed to
transform the country’s agricultural fortunes.
But yesterday, Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga said the
government was worried about the continued fall in wheat production in the
country due to inadequate irrigation water and electricity as well as high
input costs.
Chiwenga said the “special programme” would be funded by
commercial bank, CBZ Bank, as they seek to produce 400 000 metric tonnes of
wheat grain this year.
“The country requires approximately 400 000 metric tonnes
of wheat grain annually and it is currently achieving four metric tonnes per
hectare which compares well to the other wheat producing countries,” he said.
“The major challenge in wheat production is due to a number
of challenges and among these are inadequate water for irrigation and
electricity supply, high input costs and late disbursement of funds which
results in late distribution of inputs to farmers under the special programme
on wheat, maize and soya beans.” Newsday
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