dyton mupawaenda
Precious Manomano-Herald Reporter
Preparations for the coming summer farming season are at an advanced stage with over 725 000 households already finalising their five plots of Pfumvudza to maximise incomes as well as grow enough family food.
Over 16 800 households have limed and 59 500 have gathered mulch countrywide.
The distribution of Pfumvudza inputs is currently underway in all provinces and the programme will be extended to 3,5 million households.
About 29 485 tonnes of basal fertiliser, 1 293 tonnes of maize seed and 13 515 tonnes of top dressing fertiliser have been distributed to provinces.
This season the programme will support five Pfumvudza plots per household with an agro-ecological region-specific crop input package for maize, sorghum, pearl millet, soya beans, sunflower, groundnuts, vegetables and African peas.
Under the Pfumvudza programme, soyabean is targeted at 6 230ha, sunflower 100 000ha, sorghum 250 000ha, pearl millet 126 577ha, cotton 180 000ha, giving a total of over one million ha of crops under Pfumvudza this summer season.
According to the recent update by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development farmers have prepared over 1,2 million plots that is equivalent to 76 696 hectares.
Matabeleland North has so far prepared 15 118 plots equivalent to 943ha, Mashonaland West 91 328 plots equivalent to 5 699ha, Mashonaland Central 115 315 plots equivalent to 7 175ha, Mashonaland East 501 350 plots equivalent to 31 284ha, Manicaland 242 032 plots equivalent to 15 103ha and Midlands 30 864 plots equivalent to 1929 households
This year as last year, Government is distributing agricultural inputs under the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme to match the agro-ecological regions to ensure optimum production and guarantee food security and an income for all families.
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers’ Union (ZCFU) president Dr Shadreck Makombe urged farmers to adequately prepare for the next season, adding that farmers should stagger planting in case of any eventualities.
“Farmers should not plant their crops at the same time, they should add mulching to conserve water. Pfumvudza is essential to ensure food security and boost household incomes by selling the surplus. Pfumvudza is the only way to go in terms of ensuring food security and sustainability,’’ he said.
Mrs Theresa Mandere of Banket thanked the Government for timeous distribution of Pfumvudza inputs, adding that this has benefited vulnerable groups who struggled to make ends meet.
“We are grateful for this noble initiative which will go a long way in sustaining families. Government has rescued many households. We are grateful for this support.
Getting inputs on time will mean a good harvest ahead of us,” she said.
Mrs Clara Mawire said she is grateful to receive inputs on time, adding that she is hoping to increase hectares so as to achieve a bumper harvest the following season,” she said.
Mr Farai Chamunorwa of Banket said Government’s commitment needs to be appreciated as it symbolises great hope in the next season.
“This is a commendable effort made by the Government. We are likely to achieve a bumper harvest in the following season since we got our inputs on time,” he said
The scheme was introduced by President Mnangagwa’s Second Republic and it has been hailed as an inclusive game-changer benefiting vulnerable households in communal, A1, small-scale commercial farms and old resettlement sectors in producing cereals, oil seeds and legumes.
Government upgraded the scheme when it decided what were appropriate crops to be grown in the different natural regions.
Online Reporter