Sadly, considering that government inputs for the last growing season only reached the ground in February this year ‐ four months too late ‐ this advice may prove to be sound. Photos 1 and 2: Gwanda district, 27 October 2011: this family painstakingly gathers up maize seeds for planting, that have leaked from a passing truck on to the road. Will these be their only timely “free inputs” for 2011/12? 11