GOVERNMENT is working on combating corruption, which has rocked the supply of Pfumvunza/Intwasa farming inputs across the country amid reports that mobilisation of the inputs has started ahead of the forthcoming agricultural cropping season. The programme, meant to boost agricultural production among farmers from rural and resettlement areas, has been dogged by allegations of corruption involving politicians and government officials. The officials were accused of demanding US$5 per 50kg bag as transport fee from each farmer who received inputs in the just-ended summer cropping season.
However, responding to inquiries by journalists during post-Cabinet media briefing in Harare yesterday, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development minister Anxious Masuka said the government was prepared to curb corruption. “We have started mobilising goods in terms of seed that is required. And it is moving now.
We are also mobilising fertilisers so that we can grow, grow suppliers, grow fertilisers. You might be aware of the changes within the fertiliser industry,” he said. “So, indeed, the government is very, very prepared.
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I am hoping that this year, they (farmers) will be able to receive inputs ahead of the rainy season.” Masuka said that would extend to the cultural input scheme, where the government is defining the distribution mechanisms. “And last Friday’s meeting, my interactive meeting with the ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, we all were looking at the progress that we have made in terms of the mobilisation of new goods,” he said. “But over and above that, we are going to overlay that with a card, which is being developed by AFC and we see its distribution progress in Kenya.
We are using this to be able to eliminate or reduce corruption. “So this is a card linked to a bank account, a card linked to your identity and a card with a facial recognition to enable us to be bona fide recipients of this innovation to eliminate corruption in that system. So, that’s what we’re doing for this season,” he said.
Masuka said government would provide periodical updates if any problems arose, as corruption was previously flagged to be affecting the farming sector. “We are very prepared and we are going to provide periodic updates if we see any problems. We are also going to try around this year a new innovation to eliminate corruption in the distribution of goods.
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Source: NewsDay
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