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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Gwanda Correspondent
MATABELELAND South Province has started receiving inputs under the Climate Proofed Presidential Input Scheme which is a component of the Gatshompo/Pfumvudza programme, a development which will enable farmers to plant early this year.
About 88 000 farmers from the province are set to benefit under the programme. The province is expected to start moving inputs to the people by the end of September.
Government is encouraging zero tillage in areas that receive below average rains as the farming method helps to keep moisture. One of the advantages of Gatshompo/Pfumvudza is that it improves soil structure as there is minimum disruption of the soil. This means that more nutrients are preserved in the soil for plant growth resulting in high yields. Zero tillage also reduces erosion as it leaves more residue on the surface compared to the other farming methods that involve completely turning the soil.
In an interview Matabeleland South provincial agronomist Mr Innocent Nyathi said about 41 000 farmers in Matabeleland South have undergone training under the zero-tillage agricultural programme.
“We have started receiving inputs. All seven districts have received Compound D fertiliser and to date we are sitting at 1 507,7 tonnes of basil fertiliser. We haven’t received top dressing fertiliser but we have a left-over of 3,1 tonnes which is in Matobo. We have received 90 tonnes of seed maize. We also have a left-over of 27 tonnes of sorghum and 11 tonnes of pearl millet in Beitbridge. Inputs started coming in last week. By next week we expect all the other districts to have received seed,” he said.
Mr Nyathi said the new programme provided inputs that relate to the climate conditions in the respective areas.
He said while they had trained over 41 000 farmers, those who have prepared land are about 18 000.
He said the main challenge was availability of mulch because of the drought situation in the province.
Mr Nyathi said the province had in the past faced transport challenges in moving inputs to communities.
He said this time around DDF and Zimbabwe National Army trucks were going to be used for distributing the inputs. — @DubeMatutu
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