By Lorraine Ndebele
Some 105 528 farmers have registered for the 2021/22 tobacco season compared to 102 098 farmers that had registered at the same time last year representing a 3% increase, Cabinet has said.
This comes after Agricultural Marketing Authority noted that farmers who are not registered with the organisation would not benefit from subsidised inputs being availed by the government for the 2021/2022 season.
Elsewhere, seed cotton deliveries have reached 132 132 384kg compared to 83 059 898kg last year, representing a 59.1% increase.
The value of the seed cotton delivered to date is ZW$ 6. 384 billion and COTTCO has paid a total of ZW$2.9 billion to farmers, including US$3 912 500. 00.
Regarding the Presidential Climate-Proofed Cotton Pfumvudza/Intwasa Scheme for the 2021/22 season, trained farmers stand at 36% of the targeted 520 000 growers.
Turning to the Wheat Marketing and Summer Crops Production Season, Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa told journalists that Zimbabwe’s grain intake stands at 1 164 274 metric tones, comprising 83 684 metric tones of wheat and 1 080 590 metric tones of maize, soya beans and traditional grains.
“Grain delivered to date is valued at ZW$ 40.574 billion, giving an outstanding balance of ZW$4. 51 billion,” said Mutsvanga.
CBZ Agro-Yield has 18 000 metric tones and 15 000 metric tones of basal and top dressing fertilizers, respectively.
“Seed is adequately available, farmers can promptly collect them from SeedCo and K2”, Mutsvanga added.
