Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve-Victoria Falls Reporter
THE Pfumvudza/Intwasa climate-proofing programme continues to bear fruit, with communal farmers leading the way as top maize producers during the last summer cropping season and contributing a dominant 44 percent to the country’s total output.
According to the 2024-2025 Post-Harvest Survey (PHS) report released by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) this week, the communal areas sector produced 794 105 tonnes of maize, about 44 percent of national maize production.
The output was part of a national cereal harvest of 2 242 937 tonnes, which included 1 819 819 tonnes of maize, 288 344 tonnes of sorghum, and significant quantities of pearl and finger millet. Commenting on the pivotal role of communal farmers, the Permanent Secretary for Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Professor Obert Jiri, highlighted the significance of both land area and modern farming techniques.
“Generally, the communal hectarage is bigger. But also the impact of Pfumvudza/Intwasa can be seen, especially at the productivity level,” said Prof Jiri.
The development underscores that while communal farmers cultivate larger tracts of land, the successful adoption of the climate-proof Pfumvudza/Intwasa conservation agriculture scheme has been a key driver in boosting yields and ensuring food security at both household and national levels.
The PHS, a collaborative effort between ZIMSTAT and the Ministry of Agriculture, was conducted from August 28 to September 5, 2025, as a follow-up to the Crop, Livestock, and Fisheries Assessment (CLAFA-2). It involved 58,000 selected farming households across all rural provinces.
Beyond crop production, the survey also provided a snapshot of the national cattle herd.
It found encouraging conditions for livestock, with over 84,9 percent of cattle-owning households reporting adequate water availability during the lean season.
Furthermore, about 73 percent of these households described their cattle as being in fair condition.
“The average trekking distance to the main water source was generally within a 3 km radius, and natural veld and crop residues were reported as the major source of cattle feed by over 51 percent of the households with cattle,” reads the report.
The survey also highlighted challenges faced by farmers, with 39,9 percent citing inadequate rains or drought as the primary factor affecting their potential maize harvest, followed by pests and diseases at 17,4 percent. The findings cement the status of communal farmers as the bedrock of Zimbabwe’s staple cereal production. Their significant output, strengthened by Government-led programmes like Pfumvudza/Intwasa, has been crucial in building national grain stocks, with the report indicating that 58,4 percent (or 1 064 510 tonnes) of the maize produced in the season remained in storage.
