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Fildah Gwati
GOVERNMENT is making good its promise not to leave anyone or place behind in developmental programmes with Harare metropolitan province’s peri-urban farmers receiving inputs under the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme on Thursday, as efforts to boost food security at both household and national levels gather momentum.
Speaking during a meeting between Zimbabwe Union Council of Churches (ZUCOC), Pastors4ED and Ministries of Local Government, Women Affairs and Agriculture and Zanu-PF Harare Province leaders, Harare Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Mr Charles Tavengwa who was represented by the city’s acting Director for economic development and investment Mrs Melody Tapera said the Pfumvudza programme was being implemented using a multi stakeholder approach, which ensured that every citizen was involved regardless of gender, age or religion.
He urged all households in Harare Metropolitan Province to embrace the Government initiative.
He said: “Pastors 4ED were trained in crop and livestock production under the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development and the trained members have been empowered and now need support from the Government and the business community. Today a few of them will receive inputs under the Presidential Agricultural Input Scheme, Pfumvudza/Intwasa. The rest of the members are encouraged to go to their areas of residence and register with the Agricultural and rural Development Advisory Services Officers (ARDAS), formerly Agritex in order to receive the inputs.”
The agriculture sector is one of the major earners of foreign currency hence it is the duty of the province to ensure that like the rest, they also contribute to the success of the sector in line with the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS 1), which seeks to improve food self-sufficiency and allow the country to reclaim its regional breadbasket status.
He emphasised the importance of utilising inputs and warned beneficiaries against selling inputs. Mr Tavengwa also encouraged beneficiaries to prepare their land as prescribed by extension officers thereby supporting the Government initiative.
National Pastors 4ED chairperson prophetess Idirashe Dongo concurred saying the theme ‘Empowering members towards food security at household level’ that is going with the Presidential input scheme resonated well with the role of the church towards Vision 2030 and achievement of NDS1.
“The church and the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development trained over 15 000 people in crop and livestock farming. The training also focused on activities like bee farming, poultry production, aquaculture, goat keeping and maize and traditional organic foods production. The training was ward-based,” she added.
Programmes like Pastors 4ED will not be concluded any time soon but will be kept running and will be supported by other similar programmes to ensure the country boosts food security.
Online Reporter