By Flata Kavinga
The Redcliff Constituency Senior Citizens Association has appealed to the government to introduce free tillage services for elderly farmers in peri-urban and rural areas, saying the measure would improve food security and support older people who are still involved in agriculture.
In an interview, the association’s welfare officer, Juliet Govati, said many senior citizens remain interested in farming but lack the physical strength and financial resources to prepare their land for cultivation.
Govati urged the government to provide tillage through the District Development Fund (DDF), saying the programme would enable more elderly people to continue producing food.
“We appeal to the government to provide free tillage using DDF tractors for senior citizens in peri-urban and rural areas. This will strengthen household food security and enable elderly people who still want to farm to remain productive,” she said.
Govati said while some farmers are able to contribute fuel for DDF tractors, many senior citizens cannot afford the costs associated with the service.
She said the association had also appealed to the Zibagwe Rural District Council (ZRDC) to engage the government on challenges affecting elderly residents.
Govati said the proposed measures would ease the financial burden on older persons while enabling them to contribute to household food production and food security.
