GOVERNMENT has set aside $1.8 billion towards the production of strategic crops such as maize , soya beans and cotton.
During his State of the Nation (SONA) address on Tuesday, President Emmerson Mngangwa said government had set aside funds to help in the production of strategic crops.
“Of this amount, ZWL$567,4 million has been allocated for the provision of inputs for vulnerable households and ZWL$332 million to ensure the procurement of inputs for cotton production”, said Mnangagwa.
“A total of ZWL$968 million will augment the ZWL$2,8 billion put forward by banks and the private sector to support the Command Agriculture programme,” Mnangagwa said.
The President also encouraged farmers to grow traditional crops such as sorghum and rapoko as hedge against drought.
“ To strength our resilience to climate change , government is encouraging communal , A1 and A2 farmers to grow traditional grains. The implementation of the irrigation development programme will also be accelerated”, he added.
“A $60 million fund has been set aside for the rehabilitation of machinery under the Command Agriculture programme, while US$51 million has been allocated for the supply of various agricultural machinery from John Deere, some of which are already being delivered,” Mnangagwa said.
