Chronicle Editor
Harare Bureau
GOVERNMENT has deployed 60 experts to ensure that farmers who have adopted the climate-proofed Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme adhere to good agronomic practices during the current cropping season.
The intervention is meant to ensure the country meets its grain production targets, particularly during a potentially drought-affected season.
“We have deployed 60 directors and deputy directors from the Ministry (of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development) with immediate effect to all our country’s districts,” said Agricultural Advisory and Rural Development Services (AARDS) acting director of crop production Mr Leonard Munamati.
“These directors will be complementing efforts by the teams already on the ground to motivate our farmers to produce for national food security.”
The agricultural specialists, Mr Munamati said, will work hand in hand with farmers throughout the cropping season, providing guidance and oversight to guarantee adherence to good agronomic practices.
“Best management practices are the basis for food security,” he continued.
“The directors are critical as they will be assessing rainfall and distribution patterns and give appropriate advice for specific areas.”
In previous seasons, he said, only a handful of extension officers and directors from AARDS were deployed to make spot checks in selected districts.
“The deployment will help in assessing the Pfumvudza/Intwasa scheme’s progress.
“They will be verifying if all the expected plots have been planted with the specific crops.
“Plots that were supposed to be put under maize should be under maize and separate plots that were supposed to be put under traditional grains should be as so.
“This is crucial for planning purposes.”
The Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme, launched in 2020, is aimed at promoting food security and resilience by encouraging small-scale farmers to adopt conservation agriculture techniques.
These methods, such as contour farming, mulching and crop rotation, help retain soil moisture, improve fertility and boost yields, even in the face of erratic rainfall occasioned by climate change.
The experts will also audit production at Agricultural and Rural Development Authority-run irrigation schemes.
He said the authorities will ensure that inputs distributed under the programme are not diverted.
“Inputs for Pfumvudza/Intwasa are meant for food production,” said Mr Munamati.
“Intended beneficiaries must get these inputs and whoever diverts them for personal interest will be arrested by law-enforcement agents and face the wrath of the law.
“This scheme is a response to climate change and if we do not misuse the inputs, Zimbabwe will never go hungry.”
AARDS director of training and information Mr Sibangilizwe Dlodlo said: “We are expecting maize farmers to be concluding planting since we are going to have a lean season due to the El Niño phenomenon.
“However, the focus now must be on controlling weeds.
“Farmers must also start accelerating planting of sugar beans and cowpeas since these are short-season crops and do not require much rain to yield.”
Close to 3,9 million farmers have been registered under the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme in the 2023/2024 season.
* X: @TheseusShambare
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter