“We are very positive that agricultural output will exceed the 18 % growth recorded last year. Farmers are hoping that there will be better rains next season,” said the Director, Taruvinga Zuze, on the sidelines of a recent agricultural production review meeting.
“We are working around the clock to make sure that all farmers access lines of credit next season. It will be a major breakthrough,’’ he added.
He said it was also of paramount importance for the farmers to be provided with enough farming inputs. Farmers, particularly the thousands who were resettled under the fast track land redistribution programme, have struggled to access financing without title deeds as collateral.
Zuze said, with sufficient funding, they were hoping to boost maize and tobacco production. ‘‘For maize, we are targeting to realise five tonnes per hectare and two tonnes for tobacco,” he said.
Post published in: Agriculture