Command Agriculture

Command agriculture was launched by the government in 2016 to increase maize production through government support, including the provision of inputs like seeds and fertilizers to farmers.

However, this program faced criticisms over transparency with reports of political favouritism and inefficiencies in distribution.

The program aimed to reduce the reliance on food imports while improving the livelihoods of farmers.

Components of command agriculture

1.???? Provision of inputs where the government provides farmers with essential inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, fuel and machinery. This support is provided on a loan basis with the expectation that the farmers will repay it after harvesting.

2.???? Targeted production goals, where the program sets specific targets for each participating farmer. For maize the target was initially set at producing 200?000 hectares of maize with an expected yield of 2 million metric tonnes.

3.???? Strategic partnerships, where the government collaborates with private sector players including banks, agribusinesses and state-owned enterprises to supply the necessary resources and manage the logistics involved in supporting farmers.

4.???? Market guarantees, where the government guarantees a market for the produce by purchasing the output at pre-determined prices which helps stabilize the income for farmers and encourages them to participate in the program.

While the program has led to increases in maize production, it has faced several challenges and criticisms, including issues with corruption, inefficiencies, and concerns about sustainability.

Some critics argue that the program has been poorly managed and has led to significant debts for the government. There have also been allegations of political favouritism in the allocation of resources.

Given all these factors, command agriculture was created as a way for Zimbabwe to achieve food security and self-sufficiency, especially in maize production.

Command agriculture is a good idea, if managed well with short, intermediate and long term goals, it will bring sustained prosperity. However, if managed poorly, it could result in a failure to thrive.