Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Matabeleland South Province
GOVERNMENT has availed subsidised fortified seed to people in Gwanda as it continues to capacitate farmers with inputs ahead of the farming season which is upon us.
Farmers from Patana village in Ward 24 had the opportunity to buy fortified seed at half the price during a seed fair that was held in their community recently under the Small holder irrigation Revitalisation Programme (SIRP).
The villagers said this intervention has helped them to prepare for the upcoming summer cropping season. Farmers bought maize, small grains, sugar beans, ground nuts, round nuts and cow peas at subsidised prices.
Fortified seed is high in nutrients and farmers have been urged to adopt it. It is also drought tolerant.
With the rainy season almost upon us and the climate proof Intwasa/Pfumvudza land preparations going on well, dry land farmers are convinced that the availability of drought tolerant seed is vital in ensuring a good harvest.
Ms Collita Moyo said she was looking forward to planting the fortified seed as it was said to be rich in vitamins and performs well. She said she has prepared four plots under the Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme.
“I have managed to buy seed at a subsidised price and I’m now ready to start planting when the rains come. We are going to receive some inputs from Government but this seed which I have bought will complement the inputs I will get. I’m looking forward to trying out the fortified seed as I hear that it’s nutritious and also drought resistant,” she said.
“It’s really motivating to see Government coming up with these projects to support us and capacitate us. Even when we are being encouraged to take up the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme we are ready to respond.”
Mr Mthokozisi Tshuma said the seed fair was convenient to them as it has helped to bring the seed closer to communities and at a cheaper cost.
He said they sometimes have to go as far as Gwanda or even Bulawayo in order to buy maize seed and in the process incur a lot of costs. Mr Tshuma who bought sugar beans during the seed fair said he prefers to grow small grains and other drought resistant crops as they perform well in his area.
“The cost of seed has been limiting our production in the past but we are glad that Government is coming up with all these strategies to make seed accessible. As the rural folk farming is our major source of livelihood and food source. We appreciate efforts being done by Government and its partners having to avail inputs,” he said.
Ms Eddis Mazibeli said the seed will complement small grains as it ripens quicker. She said it was much better than the maize seed which they preserved in their granaries after harvesting.
SIRP communications officer, Ms Precious Nkomo said people have been encouraged to buy bio fortified foods as they are high in nutrients.
“Some of the products which we buy in supermarkets today are bio fortified such as flour, mealie meal cooking oil and salt. Government then realised that the people in rural areas don’t buy some of these foods as they grow their produce.
Therefore, now we have to grow bio fortified crops in our fields such as sugar beans, orange maize, orange sweet potatoes and small grains. Bio fortified foods have added nutrients which can help to fight diseases such as low blood supply, stunted growth, memory loss and malnutrition,” she said.
Online Reporter