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Precious Manomano
Herald Reporter
INPUTS for the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme for smallholder farmers are being delivered to Grain Marketing Board depots to ensure that farmers maximise on early rains to get a good harvest in the La Nina season predicted for the coming summer cropping season.
This year, Government is targeting 3,5 million households under Pfumvudza.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development permanent secretary Professor Obert Jiri said all was in place for the summer cropping season with seed and fertiliser companies playing their part well.
Farmers would start to receive Pfumvudza inputs next month, but only those who had prepared three plots.
Prof Jiri said abusers of the Pfumvudza inputs would be dealt with.
“On Pfumvudza we have started distributing the inputs, we are seeing a lot of fertilisers going into GMB depots. Last week we had received over 10 000 tonnes of compound D. We have also received a large chunk of maize seed. We are now on 15 000 tonnes of fertilisers. What follows is the distribution to the farmers which will follow the agro ecological matching. We are moving appropriate seed to the correct agro ecological region.
“In regions 1, 2 and 3 for those on the Government programme, we are prioritising maize; in regions 4 and 5 we are prioritising traditional grains. In terms of distribution we will start in September and as indicated previously those beneficiaries who will receive these inputs must have prepared three plots,” he said.
The Government programme has been refined to a varied three plots of Pfumvudza with those in regions with good rains being used to grow maize, sugar beans, sunflower and fodder for livestock.
It includes a herbicides package for three plots and a fall armyworm control package.
The Zunde RaMambo scheme will support 10 plots for each chief, seven plots for headmen and 5 plots each for village heads.
Farmers have hailed the Government for timeous distribution of inputs so that they plant on time.
Tobacco Farmers’ Union Trust president Mr Victor Mariranyika said the situation is pointing towards a successful season.
“This is a good commitment that is shown by the Government to ensure all inputs are in place on time so that farmers can plant on time to maximise productivity levels,” he said.
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union president Dr Shadreck Makombe said farmers had to prepare adequately for the upcoming season to maximise production and boost their incomes.
“Farmers must adequately prepare so that they produce good results to realise good harvest so that Zimbabwe becomes food self- sufficient. Inputs should be secured on time,” he said
Pfumvudza was introduced in President Mnangagwa’s Second Republic and it has been hailed as the best way to move small-scale subsistance farmers into commercial farming. It benefits all households in communal, A1, small scale commercial farming and old resettlement sectors, who are prepared to dig their plots after attending a training course, in producing cereals, oil seeds and legumes.
Agriculture is also key in the pursuit of growth of the rural economy as the sector is up to four times more powerful at reducing poverty than any other sector.
Online Reporter