INCREASE GUMBO

MIRROR REPORTER

CHIREDZI – Masvingo Provincial Agritex Director, Caleb Mahoya has allocated the 80 metric tonnes of molasses donated to the province by Tongaat Hulett with Gutu District getting the lowest. Gutu got 5,6 metric tonnes which is a third of what Chiredzi got 16 metric tonnes. The reason why Gutu got much lower allocation is because it has other development partners and there is also a criteria used, which is based on the stover or herbage availability and urea in the districts since the molasses was meant to be used during fodder production. The second lowest allocations went to Bikita, Masvingo and Mwenezi which got 10,6 metric tonnes each. Next were Zaka and Chivi which got 13,6 metric tonnes each. The molasses is to be distributed to farmers who are hard hit by this year’s El Nino induced drought. The molasses collected from Tongaat so far are 24.88 metric tonnes. Mahoya confirmed the development in a telephone interview with The Mirror and said Bikita, Masvingo and Chivi districts are yet to collect their shares. “Chiredzi is getting 16 metric tonnes, Zaka 13.3, Chivi 13.3 Bikita 10.6, Masvingo 10.6, Mwenezi 10.6, while Gutu gets the lowest 5.6,” said Mahoya. Masvingo Provincial Livestock Specialist, Joseph Chipuri said Chiredzi got the biggest chunk because it’s the district which spearheaded molasses blocks used with urea “Before we shared the molasses, we asked how much molasses each district required based on the availability of urea and Chiredzi required more because it’s the district which spearheaded the molasses blocks which are used as cattle feed,” said Chipuri.