Story by Courage Bushe
THE ZANU PF affiliate, Pastors for Economic Development, in partnership with Government, has availed farming inputs to farmers in Mberengwa District as part of efforts to enhance agricultural productivity and contribute towards national food security.
Inspired by the Second Republic’s development mantra, Nyika Inovakwa Nevene Vayo/Ilizwe Lakhiwa Ngabanikazi Balo, the affiliate has launched a farming inputs support scheme targeting communal farmers in the district ahead of the next farming season.
Beneficiaries expressed optimism that the initiative will improve yields and strengthen household livelihoods.
“We are hoping to increase our production, meaning we are going to have surplus for selling. We appreciate efforts by this affiliate group in assisting farmers with these inputs,” a beneficiary said.
“This means we are now ready for the next season. I am going to pay school fees for my children after the proceeds. This promotes early planting whose probability of better harvests is high,” another added.
“As Farmers, we are proud to be part of this journey. We are not only beneficiaries of these programmes, but also active participants and mobilisers.”
Pastors for ED leadership says it is expanding its initiatives in 2026 to enhance community livelihoods.
“By bringing safety nets closer to farmers in addressing drought mitigation and climate change, Pastors for ED is among stakeholders with remarkable interests in vast sustainable agriculture production. We have launched this programme in Mberengwa as a mark to roll out a massive campaign throughout the country’s 10 provinces, where we are contributing inputs to farmers through various models.
“Our aim is to support the vision of the President. This initiative to avail these inputs early is to ensure farming is done early, even before the government input programme begins, so we are complementing,” founding member, Pastor Idirashe Dongo noted.
Government has commended the initiative, saying it will play a crucial role in boosting food security at household level.
“We fully support this programme, it is a noble cause, and it will go a long way in promoting agricultural activities as we await the next farming season. This will play a key role in alleviating food shortages faced by communal farmers,” Deputy Director in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development for the Midlands province, Mr Zivanayi Matore stated.
The community empowerment and sustainable development programme dovetails with the vision to attain an upper-middle-income society by 2030.
