Italian Agency Assists Farmers in Accessing Seeds
The Italian Agency for Development Co-operation yesterday unveiled €1 million funding for the El Nino drought response programme. The project, which is being implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organisation and Government through the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development in Mberengwa, Zvishavane, Chivi and Mwenezi districts, will enable farmers to access high yielding drought-tolerant seed and stockfeeds at subsidised prices.
This is unlike other aid agencies that want to directly distribute aid to villagers. The 4 000 smallholder farmers affected by drought are getting high yielding varieties such as cowpeas and sorghum seed, while 2 000 households will get subsidised survival stockfeed to save approximately 4 000 head of cattle from drought-related deaths.
Jon Culver