14 Mar 2013

Some private tractor owners are unhappy with the current rates for ploughing and planting offered under the Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agriculture Development (ISPAAD).

Answering a question in Parliament on Wednesday, Minister of Agriculture, Mr Christiaan De Graaff said he was not aware of any farmer who failed to plough because they could not raise P200 that was required by tractor owner.

In addition, he said he was aware that some private tractor owners charged farmers extra money and they had since realised that the practice was spread countrywide.

Mr De Graaff explained that the assistance of subsidising farmers by P400 for ploughing and P150 for row planting was to enable many farmers to plough and plant.

The minister said the provision of draught power under ISPAAD was meant to assist farmers to undertake proper and timely farm operations and hence improve crop productivity.

He further told Parliament that the P400/ha and P150/ha for ploughing and row planting were set at the inception of ISPAAD taking into account cost of fuel, labour (operator), service parts and any other contingencies.

In addition, the minister said he was also aware that service parts (including oils and lubricants) had increased since 2008. He said ISPAAD guidelines had been reviewed and all recommendations including rates for ploughing, planting were considered.

MP for Kanye South, Mr Abram Kesupile had asked the minister whether he was aware that tractor owners in the Southern District were not happy with the assistance of P400 per hectare for tillage and P150 per hectare for planting; and that some farmers failed to plough because they could not raise P200 that was required by tractor owners for the services of their tractors.

Mr Kesupile said if it was so, the minister should state the extent to which this was the case throughout the country and what was this assistance intended to achieve. He also wanted to know why the rates were not made to be attractive and realistic enough to entice all farmers to plough during this season. ENDS