Online Reporter
Victor Maphosa-Mashonaland East Bureau
Innovation and research in the agriculture sector can guarantee maximum production and ensure food security for the nation, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary, Professor Obert Jiri, has said.
Professor Jiri made the remarks in an interview with Zimpapers during a field day at Kent Farm in Marondera yesterday, after his appreciation of mini centre pivots being manufactured by a Marondera farmer, Mr Beren Stockhill.
The portable centre pivots can irrigate an area of up to one hectare and are designed mainly for use by both smallholder and Pfumvudza farmers, specifically on their plots.
These kinds of centre pivots are easy to operate and do not require electricity to move them from one point to another, as they can be easily pulled or pushed by an operator.
Professor Jiri said this kind of innovation would improve the Pfumvudza programme.
“What we are witnessing here is farmer-led research, which has improved our Pfumvudza programming. The crop being irrigated here is what is commonly grown under Pfumvudza, so these plots that we are seeing are Pfumvudza plots, but under irrigation. And the kind of irrigation that we are seeing here is by a linear pivot done by the farmer, and now it is operational.
“It is meant to supplement rainfall on the Pfumvudza plot. We call this smart Pfumvudza, because we have improved from the Pfumvudza that we ordinarily do, which is water conservation and ensuring that farmers escape the vagaries of weather.
“Smart Pfumvudza then guarantees production because not only does it conserve moisture, but it also ensures that we supplement rainwater, especially where it is in short supply, which is often the case.
“So smart Pfumvudza is meant to ensure that smallholder farmers, those subsistence farmers who can afford it, can now upgrade from the common Pfumvudza and put in a small pivot which is affordable,” he said.
Professor Jiri said this kind of centre pivot was manufactured using locally available material, which makes it affordable to rural farmers.
“It is affordable to those who want to ensure that production is guaranteed. Farmers can now plant earlier and then the rains can catch the crop midway.
“Farmers can supplement rainwater with this to ensure the crop goes through to maturity. In a dry spell, smallholder farmers need to invest in such machinery which guarantees production.”
Professor Jiri said Government fully supports such innovation and called on farmers to embrace it.
“As Government, we feel that this is a good innovation which must be embraced by those farmers who can afford it.
“As Government, we fully support smart Pfumvudza and improvements on Pfumvudza, guaranteeing production for smallholder farmers.”
Mr Stockhill said the mini centre pivot is ideal for small-scale commercial farming and is designed to maximise production.
“It is designed to ensure that we increase production on the land that we have; we just need some water. As a farmer, having this kind of machinery is good because you will be securing your future.
“The pivot does not use a lot of water. It is easy to use and secures a farmer’s future,” he said.
