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*Fire Destroys US$800k Wheat, Farmers Blame Saboteurs*

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Wheat valued at close to US$800 000 was destroyed by fire in 20 separate incidents last week, with authorities and farmers putting the blame on arsonists in most of the cases.

Agritex extension officers deployed to assess the damage caused by the fires noted that most of the fires started inside the wheat fields thus pointing to possible sabotage.

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Chief director for Agriculture and Rural Development Advisory Services, Obert Jiri, said:

> After our extension officers’ inspections, it was clear that in most cases, the fires were not from the veld but started infield, pointing to possible sabotage, and we want our farmers to be on the lookout.

Zimbabwe Farmers Union executive director, Paul Zakariya, said the high number of wheat fields that have been affected by fires this year is unusual. Said Zakariya:

> This is the first-ever season we have had such high numbers of fires in wheat fields.

> There is suspicion that some disgruntled elements might want to disrupt the projected bumper harvest.

> We need to act collectively to counter such people.

Pieter Gertenbach, a Mvurwi farmer, lost a 35-hectare wheat field to fire at his Pembi Chase Farm.

The crop was supported by the Presidential Inputs Scheme and Gertenbach believes the fire was an act of sabotage. He said:

> This is an act of sabotage, no doubt about it. Some people are deliberately trying to fight the President’s efforts to improve agriculture.

> This was not a wild veld fire that started out of nowhere; the fire started from within the field.

Benedict Chagumuka of Machewe Farm in Mvurwi who lost 15 hectares of wheat to a fire last week also claimed the fire started in the middle of the field. He said:

> The fire started in the middle of the field. After inspecting the field, I could tell the source of the fire. Sadly, I did not have insurance for the crop.

| The Sunday Mail

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