Staff Reporter

The subscription for the Climate-Proofed Presidential Inputs Pfumvudza/Intwasa Supply Scheme has been overwhelming, as the country prepares for the 2021/2022 farming season.

The Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa revealed to a Post Cabinet media briefing in Harare yesterday that there was overwhelming subscription for the Climate-Proofed Presidential Inputs Pfumvudza/Intwasa Supply Scheme with “2.484 million households already rolling out the programme, compared to the 1.5 million which were rolled out at the same time last year”.

The Minister further revealed that inputs distribution for the Climate-Proofed Presidential  Pfumvudza/Intwasa  inputs Supply Scheme is in full swing across the country and that the inputs distribution under the National Enhanced Agriculture Productivity Scheme is being accelerated.

On preparations for the summer grains production season, the Minister highlighted that work is on-going to attain the targeted 2 million hectares of maize, 70 000 hectares of soya bean and 655 000 hectares of traditional grains for the 2021/2022 agriculture season.

She also indicated the increase in number for farmers who have registered for tobacco growing when compared to last season.

 “A total of 114 721 tobacco growers have registered for the 2021/2022 season, compared to 124 943 growers who had registered during the same period last season. To date, the total area planted is 31% above that planted last season. There are 345 new growers,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

Meanwhile, the Minister further revealed that the on-going marketing of grain have seen a total of 1, 293 million metric tonnes of grain comprising maize, soya beans, wheat and traditional grains have so far been delivered to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB), which is  a phenomenal increase from last year’s comparative deliveries of 327 446 metric tonnes.