Story by Tendai Munengwa
THE government says local industry has adequate capacity to produce 60 000 tonnes of compound D fertiliser for the Presidential Free Inputs Scheme that will be officially launched in Matabeleland South Province next week.
With the official launch of the Presidential Free Inputs scheme set for next weekend, the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Masuka this Friday toured Reignbold Fertiliser Company factory on the outskirts of Harare to assess its capacity to supply basal fertiliser for the scheme.
“We are happy to find out that so far 18 000 tonnes of fertilizer have been distributed to GMB depots. We are confident that by November 7, we will launch the Presidential Scheme with expectations that 30 000 tonnes will be disbursed to all beneficiaries in all rural wards,” he said.
The company has expanded its production lines, dispatching about 1 400 tonnes of fertiliser to various parts of the country per day.
“We have the capacity to meet the government deadlines, we are operating full throttle, so we are confident that by mid-November, all the required basal fertilizer will be at the farmers’ doorstep,” Titus Maravanyika of Reignbold Fertiliser Company said.
The Presidential Free Inputs Scheme has proved to be a key drought mitigation programme, benefitting over 3.5 million rural households each year.
