The Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) has condemned the misuse of inputs under the Pfumvudza/Intwasa and National Enhanced Agricultural Productivity Scheme (NEAPS), calling for stricter penalties for offenders.
According to Statutory Instrument 79 of 2017, inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, and chemicals provided through these programs must be used solely for their intended purposes, with all contracted produce delivered to designated buyers.
Those found diverting inputs could face fines up to level four, which includes imprisonment for up to three months, a fine, or both. Additionally, any misused inputs or illegally sold produce may be confiscated.
AMA CEO Clever Isaya told <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/ama-decries-inputs-abuse-and-side-marketing/">The Herald</a> that the abuse of agricultural inputs undermines the Government’s efforts to ensure food security, disrupts market stability, and diminishes the economic potential of the agriculture sector. He said:
<blockquote>
Inputs provided under these schemes are a national investment in food security and agricultural resilience. Their misuse not only jeopardises household food security but also reduces the overall agricultural productivity needed to feed the nation.
AMA has established regional offices across the country to help farmers access information on proper marketing channels and compliance requirements.
This move aims to ensure that all farmers from communal to commercial, understand their obligations under the law and the economic impact of non-compliance.
</blockquote>
Programmes like Pfumvudza/Intwasa assist small-holder farmers while NEAPS, on the other hand, enables commercial-scale farming by providing financial and material support.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development Permanent Secretary, Obert Jiri, recently said that individuals who sell or distribute inputs received under the climate-proofed Presidential Inputs Scheme (Pfumvudza) will face arrest.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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The AMA is angry because people are using farming supplies in the wrong way. They want stricter rules and punishments for those who do this. People who misuse the supplies can go to jail or pay fines. It's important to use these supplies properly to make sure there is enough food. The AMA is helping farmers know how to follow the rules. Some programs help small farmers, while others support big farms. The government says anyone caught selling these supplies will get in trouble.

AMA Calls For Stricter Penalties To Combat Abuse of Government Farming Inputs

The Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) says more deterrent measures are still needed to curb the side-marketing of cotton by farmers.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/new-ama-in-fight-against-cotton-side-marketing">The Sunday Mail</a>, AMA chief executive officer Clever Isaya said side marketing remains a big threat to the cotton sector.
He said AMA has since signed memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with cotton contractors to contain the practice through agreed fines and penalties. Said Isaya:
<blockquote>
Cotton is a strategic crop in the country and the second-largest foreign currency earner after tobacco.
Therefore, its value chain has to be protected. We are currently in the process of identifying common buying points which our farmers will use during the marketing season.
AMA clerks will be deployed to these points to monitor the process and ensure that there are no side-marketing activities.
</blockquote>
He said all contractors are required by law to buy from their contracted farmers only.
Side marketing is when growers sell their produce to third parties in breach of contractual agreements that bind producers to sell their yield to the contractor who would have provided inputs to the grower.
There are varied reasons why side marketing of crops is now rife in the market but it mainly stems from lower producer prices set by the government and the contractors.
Cotton is typically harvested between April and July. The process of cotton harvesting involves picking the mature cotton bolls from the plants by hand or machine.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Authorities Seek To Curb Side-marketing Of Cotton

The smuggling of Sesame seed (uninga) into neighbouring Mozambique is said to be rampant among Chipinge farmers as they receive foreign currency from the buyers.
Sesame is a herb with foxglove-like flowers that produce pods containing tiny edible seeds.
The seeds are rich in minerals, can also be crushed to produce sesame oil, and have numerous health benefits.
In Zimbabwe, the crop is used as a substitute for peanut butter and cooking oil.
The Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA), says about 2 500 hectares were put under the crop last season and 779 tonnes are expected after harvesting.
The Grain Marketing Board (GMB), Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (Cottco), Cashbox Financial Services and Open Systems are into contracting farmers to grow sesame seed.
However, instead of delivering the produce to Checheche Growth Point where the four companies are based, farmers are side marketing and smuggling the crop to Mozambique.
Reports indicate that in Mozambique, a kilogramme of sesame seed ranges between US$1 to US1.50, while local buyers are paying between US50 cents and US$1 using the official auction rate.
AMA Manicaland provincial inspector, Rosa Rosario told Manica Post in an interview that it is illegal for farmers to smuggle their crop to Mozambique. She said:
<blockquote>We have quite a handful of registered buyers in our directory. In Checheche and surrounding areas nearly half of the farmers are contracted by Cottco.
Since some of the farmers are not contracted, they are demanding US$1/per kg, which is too much for our local buyers.
The sesame seed should be sold locally. What is happening is illegal. The farmers should know that they are actually creating jobs in Mozambique.</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.manicapost.co.zw/rampant-sesame-seed-smuggling-in-chipinge/">Manica Post</a></h4>

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