Interesting quote from a lunatic government:
Published by the government of Zimbabwe
The Herald (Harare)
7 March 2008
Posted to the web 7 March 2008
Harare
There is a lot of excitement among farmers countrywide as the Government tomorrow launches the third phase of the Farm Mechanisation Programme.
The Government embarked on mechanisation in response to cries from farmers to modernise agriculture.
Following the successful acquisition and redistribution of land to the majority, it became clear that high productivity levels would not be achieved in the absence of farming machinery and implements.
The importance of mechanisation was buttressed by the creation of the Ministry of Agricultural Engineering, Mechanisation and Irrigation headed by Dr Joseph Made. What farmers now needed were tractors, planters, combines, disc harrows and disc ploughs, among other things to turn the vast tracts of land allocated to them into carpets of thriving crops.
Against this background, the first phase was launched in June last year, followed by the second one in October.
Farmers -- through a loan scheme run by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe -- got equipment and machinery necessary for them to turn the land into full production.
The Government has not been selective in its implementation of the mechanisation programme as it has also made available farming machinery and implements for all levels of farmers. While A2 farmers and even some A1 farmers got big machinery like tractors, combines, planters and ploughs, communal farmers were not ignored as they got ox-drawn ploughs, cultivators and scotchcarts.
Essentially, the programme has been all encompassing. The third phase - to be officially launched by President Mugabe tomorrow - will result in farmers getting tractors, combines, ploughs, sprayers, cattle and motorbikes to name a few. What makes the launch more exciting is the realisation by Government that food security can never be achieved if farmers are not provided with tools to boost production. We thus commend the Government for continuously empowering farmers with equipment to enhance agricultural production, which has previously been hampered by the shortage of machinery and implements. There is no reason for us not to become self-sufficient and reclaim our status as southern Africa's breadbasket, as more agricultural equipment continues to come into the country and is given to productive farmers.
Relevant Links
Southern Africa
Agribusiness
Economy, Business and Finance
Zimbabwe
To recipients of the various farm machinery and implements, we say the ball is now firmly in your court. There were times when we would understand farmers' failure to produce premised on the shortage or even lack of equipment but now those who fail to fully utilise their land will have no one to blame but themselves if the land is taken from them. The Government has stressed that the programme was aimed at empowering those farmers who demonstrated their ability to contribute to national economic growth but were facing constraints and with the programme in place, there is no reason why the country should continue importing food. We urge farmers to use the equipment for food security and let them not turn tractors into commuter buses, let not the tractors spend time parked at bars but we want to see them right in the fields doing what they were designed to do. What the Government has done is exactly what a Government that has the interests of its people at heart does. It swiftly responds to their needs, even when there are other hardships to be tackled.
The Government has made it clear that it will not stop at mechanisation, but will also tackle irrigation requirements of farmers as it moves on to complete the equation that has seen Zimbabweans getting land, tractors and other machinery and now irrigation.
There is no way farming can fail if farmers have everything they require.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200803070409.html
Published by the government of Zimbabwe
The Herald (Harare)
7 March 2008
Posted to the web 7 March 2008
Harare
There is a lot of excitement among farmers countrywide as the Government tomorrow launches the third phase of the Farm Mechanisation Programme.
The Government embarked on mechanisation in response to cries from farmers to modernise agriculture.
Following the successful acquisition and redistribution of land to the majority, it became clear that high productivity levels would not be achieved in the absence of farming machinery and implements.
The importance of mechanisation was buttressed by the creation of the Ministry of Agricultural Engineering, Mechanisation and Irrigation headed by Dr Joseph Made. What farmers now needed were tractors, planters, combines, disc harrows and disc ploughs, among other things to turn the vast tracts of land allocated to them into carpets of thriving crops.
Against this background, the first phase was launched in June last year, followed by the second one in October.
Farmers -- through a loan scheme run by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe -- got equipment and machinery necessary for them to turn the land into full production.
The Government has not been selective in its implementation of the mechanisation programme as it has also made available farming machinery and implements for all levels of farmers. While A2 farmers and even some A1 farmers got big machinery like tractors, combines, planters and ploughs, communal farmers were not ignored as they got ox-drawn ploughs, cultivators and scotchcarts.
Essentially, the programme has been all encompassing. The third phase - to be officially launched by President Mugabe tomorrow - will result in farmers getting tractors, combines, ploughs, sprayers, cattle and motorbikes to name a few. What makes the launch more exciting is the realisation by Government that food security can never be achieved if farmers are not provided with tools to boost production. We thus commend the Government for continuously empowering farmers with equipment to enhance agricultural production, which has previously been hampered by the shortage of machinery and implements. There is no reason for us not to become self-sufficient and reclaim our status as southern Africa's breadbasket, as more agricultural equipment continues to come into the country and is given to productive farmers.
Relevant Links
Southern Africa
Agribusiness
Economy, Business and Finance
Zimbabwe
To recipients of the various farm machinery and implements, we say the ball is now firmly in your court. There were times when we would understand farmers' failure to produce premised on the shortage or even lack of equipment but now those who fail to fully utilise their land will have no one to blame but themselves if the land is taken from them. The Government has stressed that the programme was aimed at empowering those farmers who demonstrated their ability to contribute to national economic growth but were facing constraints and with the programme in place, there is no reason why the country should continue importing food. We urge farmers to use the equipment for food security and let them not turn tractors into commuter buses, let not the tractors spend time parked at bars but we want to see them right in the fields doing what they were designed to do. What the Government has done is exactly what a Government that has the interests of its people at heart does. It swiftly responds to their needs, even when there are other hardships to be tackled.
The Government has made it clear that it will not stop at mechanisation, but will also tackle irrigation requirements of farmers as it moves on to complete the equation that has seen Zimbabweans getting land, tractors and other machinery and now irrigation.
There is no way farming can fail if farmers have everything they require.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200803070409.html
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