Harare, Zimbabwe - The European Union (EU) Wednesday gave Zimbabwe US$100 million in agricultural aid for the forthcoming farming season. Agriculture Minister Joseph Made said the funds would finance an input supply scheme covering 800,000 rural households in the 2011/12 farming season starting in October. Under the scheme, poor rural farmers would be supplied with free seeds and fertiliser. Made said there were 1.5 million farmers requiring the aid, but government would assist those not covered under the EU input scheme.

'We are pleased the EU has unveiled this assistance for farmers this season. It will assist in boosting production in rural areas,' he said.

The EU has cut the bulk of its assistance to Zimbabwe in protest against alleged human rights abuses.

The authorities deny the charges, and instead say this was done to pressure the country to abandon its controversial land reforms.

Pana 09/06/2011