Online Reporter
Gibson Mhaka
Zimpapers Politics Hub
NESTLED in the heart of Matabeleland South Province, Bulilima District, lying in agro-ecological region four, is one of Zimbabwe’s driest areas where the land has become increasingly unforgiving.
The persistent poor harvests over the years have seemingly fostered a sense of resignation among the people, leading some to humorously joke that even stones seem to thrive more than crops in this arid environment.
Compounding this persistent struggle against aridity, the shifting weather patterns resulting from climate change have cast a long shadow, further disrupting the delicate balance and leaving families to grapple with the heartbreaking reality of failing agriculture.
The adverse impacts of these changing climate patterns on agriculture in Bulilima are far-reaching.
Erratic rainfall, characterised by prolonged dry spells followed by intense but often insufficient downpours, makes it incredibly difficult to plan and execute successful planting seasons.
Given the poor and unreliable rainfall that characterises this area, there has been a growing recognition and need among farmers to shift towards cultivating small grain crops.
These resilient grains, such as sorghum, millet, and rapoko, exhibit a remarkable ability to withstand the harsh and dry conditions prevalent in the region.
Their inherent drought tolerance and shorter growing seasons offer a more sustainable and adaptive agricultural strategy in the face of increasing climate variability, providing a greater chance of securing food and livelihoods despite the challenging environment.
It was not until 2020 that the Government, as part of its efforts to respond to the effects of climate change, introduced an innovative concept, the Intwasa/Pfumvudza Programme, specifically designed to climate-proof agriculture, even in regions like Bulilima characterised by low rainfall patterns.
When the Government introduced Intwasa/Pfumvudza, the aim was to maximise productivity per unit area, even during drought periods, to ensure household and national food and nutritional security.
Intwasa involves the utilisation of small pieces of land and applying the correct agronomic practices for higher returns. The approach can be used in marginal areas and still give high yields.
Although the introduction of the Intwasa/Pfumvudza saw even areas characterised by low rainfall patterns, such as Bulilima, recording surprisingly bountiful harvests, the initiative was initially met with cynicism by some.
This scepticism largely stemmed from the perception that the conservation agriculture techniques promoted by the programme were excessively labour-intensive, requiring meticulous land preparation, precise input application, and careful water management, which seemed daunting to farmers accustomed to more conventional, albeit less productive, methods.
Having heeded the Government’s calls for climate-smart agriculture and embraced the Intwasa/Pfumvudza Programme, Mr Clive Ncube (67) and his wife, Bongani Dube (57), from Huwana Village in Bulilima’s Ward 8, under Chief Manguba stand as a shining example of the successful implementation of the concept.
As a direct result of diligently following the principles of climate-smart agriculture and the Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme, the couple have yielded a truly bumper harvest from their five plots, comprising two of maize, one of sorghum, groundnuts, and pearl millet.
Their significant success story in Huwana Village serves as compelling evidence that the Intwasa/Pfumvudza concept is indeed a viable and highly effective agricultural strategy, even in traditionally low rainfall areas like Bulilima.
Their productive fields stand in stark contrast to previous years, demonstrating the transformative potential of this climate-resilient approach in ensuring food security and improving livelihoods in a region often challenged by aridity.
Sharing their Intwasa/Pfumvudza success story during a field day held at their homestead, where they served as host farmers and provided an opportunity for other farmers to exchange notes and farming ideas, the couple attributed their remarkable harvest directly to the adoption of the Intwasa/Pfumvudza Programme.
They emphasised how the meticulous techniques and climate-smart principles of the programme enabled them to achieve such impressive yields despite the region’s typically challenging dry conditions.
The event was being held under the theme: “Promoting Conservation Agriculture, Small Grain production and Crop Diversity”.
“Initially, we were hesitant about Intwasa/Pfumvudza, finding the concept of conservation agriculture labour-intensive. However, the persistent visits and explanations from the agricultural extension officers in our area eventually convinced us to give it a try,” said Mr Ncube.
“Through their dedicated support and extensive training from Agritex officers, who have been instrumental in promoting the uptake of conservation agriculture, we have managed to perfect the art of these techniques.”
He further explained the specific guidance received, stating, “We have actually perfected our skills in Intwasa through the training provided by our local agricultural extension officers.
“For our five plots, which include two of maize, one of sorghum, groundnuts, and pearl millet, we meticulously followed their guidelines. This involved ensuring that for our plot size of 52×28 metres, the planting holes were 15×15 centimetres deep with a spacing of 75×60 centimetres between them.”
Mr Ncube emphasised that adherence to these precise instructions was key to their success.
His wife also concurred, imploring fellow farmers to prioritise the Intwasa/Pfumvudza Programme, emphasising its transformative potential as a game-changer in the face of climate change.
Expressing her optimism, she added that she was now looking forward to a profitable season and “ready to smile all the way to the Grain Marketing Board.”
“Despite the initial perception that the concept is labour-intensive, it has undeniably yielded positive results, and as farmers, we should wholeheartedly embrace it.
“We worked as a team, diligently digging the planting holes and ensuring the correct spacing, guided by the expert advice of the Agritex officers.
“We have learnt that deviating from these guidelines would only be to our own detriment. Our teamwork extended to weeding as well and my dedicated team comprises my children and grandchildren,” she said.
In recognition of their exemplary efforts, the couple was awarded a heifer and a wheelbarrow and shovel.
Other participating farmers also received prizes such as goats, hoes and shovels, with the Insurance Council of Zimbabwe (ICZ) sponsoring the awards.
Bulilima District Development Coordinator Mr Onesimo Zogara, who was the guest of honour, encouraged farmers to practice Intwasa/Pfumvudza, highlighting it as a government-supported programme aimed at increasing food production and security for smallholder farmers at the household level, as well as promoting sustainable agriculture practices that reduce environmental degradation.
“Bulilima lies in agro-ecological region four, which is characterised by low rainfall, prolonged dry spells, and frequent seasonal droughts, making it a serious challenge for crop production such as maize to survive under such harsh conditions.
“I therefore recommend and encourage farmers in this region to practise agro-ecological matching. They should grow small grains such as pearl millet (inyawuthi), sorghum, and other drought-tolerant crop cultivars which are ideal for natural region four due to their ability to thrive in areas with little or low rainfall.
“More so, I would like to encourage farmers to practise Intwasa/Pfumvudza, a government-supported programme which aims at increasing food production and security for smallholder farmers at the household level, as well as promoting sustainable agriculture practices that reduce environmental degradation,” said Mr Zogara.
Mr Zogara also expressed his appreciation for the support received from ICZ and other stakeholders, noting that insurance plays a vital role in the agriculture sector by providing financial protection to farmers against various risks and uncertainties, such as natural disasters like drought and floods.
Commenting on their partnership with farmers, which included sponsoring prizes at field days, ICZ head of operations, Mr Nicholas Sayi, urged smallholder farmers to prioritise agricultural insurance, emphasising its crucial role in providing relief to communities increasingly vulnerable to climate-related risks.
“Having implemented this programme, we are working symbiotically with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development through its architects’ division.
“We noted that to gain the trust of the farmers and dispel any doubts surrounding insurance, we partnered with these architects to participate in the field days they conduct. These field days are structured around a competition, a criterion used to select a farmer who has performed exceptionally well,” said Mr Sayi.
“Subsequently, a field day is held at the winning farmer’s homestead, serving as a demonstration of their successful agronomic practices for other farmers.
“We actively participated in all these field programmes, and our focus was on providing prizes. The decision regarding the prizes was to offer items that are meaningful and relevant to the farmers.
“The most prestigious prize we award is a heifer to the farmer who has demonstrated the best performance. Additionally, we provide various other agricultural-related inputs, such as fertiliser, ploughs, and wheelbarrows, based on the needs identified by the architects’ officers,” he said.
