Story by Tendai Munengwa
THE government has intensified the distribution of fertiliser and seed under the Presidential Input Scheme ahead of the summer cropping season.
This comes as the Second Republic’s policy to recapitalise the fertiliser industry is paying dividends, with one of the indigenous companies, Reignbold, coming on board to produce fertiliser and ensure that the commodity is readily available ahead of the 2025-2026 summer cropping season.
“We are happy that production and distribution of compound D has already started. We want to thank the government for giving us support to boost our production lines. So far, our production lines have the capacity to produce 2 000 tonnes of compound D per day. We can confirm that we have already distributed 30% of compound D for the Presidential input scheme and we are confident that we will meet the farmers’ demand,” the spokesperson of Reignbold Company, Mr Titus Maravanyika said.
The Permanent Secretary for Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Professor Obert Jiri this Wednesday toured the Reignbold factory on the outskirts of Harare to assess the company’s state of preparedness ahead of the summer cropping season.
“We are happy that Reignbold Company, which was established 2 years ago as part of government efforts to boost production, has demonstrated capacity and is now producing 2 000 tonnes a day. From the look of things, since it has started production, the country can be assured of adequate compound D fertilisers. We are also happy that we have secured over 25 000 tonnes of top dressing that will be complemented by more imports of Ammonium Nitrate so that farmers will be in a position to boost productivity and enhance food security.
During this Tuesday’s Post Cabinet Media Briefing, Information Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere outlined how the Zimbabwe Industrial Reconstruction and Growth Plan has contributed to a strong fertiliser value chain to support the agricultural sector.
“In the fertiliser sub-sector, the Mutapa Investment Fund injected US$5.3 million to revive Dorowa Mine to increase production of phosphates, which are a key raw material in the production of basal fertilisers. Hence, the number of fertiliser firms has grown from 14 to 16 over a short period of time.”
The timely movement of fertiliser to GMB depots comes at the right time, as weather experts are predicting rains to start falling anytime.
