Zimbabwe gvt admits farmers abusing machinery

The government has admitted that it is concerned farmers are abusing expensive machinery distributed to them under the farm mechanisation programme meant to revitalize the ailing agricultural sector.

Under the farm mechanisation programme launched amid much publicity last year, farmers received equipment that included tractors, disc harrows, ploughs and combine harvesters with the aim of increasing production on the farms which has been declining since the country's controversial land reform programme.

But addressing journalists in Harare Monday on the progress of the mechanisation programme, Agriculture Engineering, Mechanisation and Irrigation Minister Joseph Made accused farmers of abusing machinery and neglecting the servicing of tractors.

Made, an unpopular figure in his last post of Agriculture Minister blamed two seasons ago for a disastrous farming season, conceded tractors were being used to ferry people and other goods while others spent their time "parked at beerhalls".

"We want to train farmers on the correct use of tractors," Made said.

"There are times when tractors are used to carry even 10 crates of beer when they should be used for heavy work in the fields. I know there are transport problems, but that is not a passport to abuse tractors," he said.

The independent media has over the last couple of months carried stories alleging that some farmers were using their tractors to ferry people for a fee, while others were selling diesel that they had acquired cheaply from government — for farm use — on the black market.

Last year several Zanu PF members made headlines when the State said it was going to charge them with selling fuel acquired cheaply from government for farm use on the black market, but like so many other cases of corruption, the charges were dropped.

Made said his ministry in conjunction with the private sector had established a division responsible for training and extension services.

He said many farmers, particularly those under the A2 (large scale commercial) model who received farming equipment under the mechanization programme had undergone training as most of the equipment needed expert handling.

Made said the mechanisation programme had a huge impact on the summer farming preparations and this would transcend to preparations for the winter season.