Online Reporter
Precious Manomano
Herald Reporter
THE Government has urged farmers across the country to intensify preparations for the 2026/27 summer cropping season and fully embrace the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme, describing it as a critical tool for boosting agricultural productivity, conserving moisture and strengthening food security in the face of climate change.
The call comes as authorities continue rolling out strategies to enhance resilience among farmers amid forecasts of possible dry spells and erratic rainfall patterns during the forthcoming agricultural season.
Chief Director of Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services (ARDAS) in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Management, Mrs Medlinah Magwenzi, said early land preparation under Pfumvudza/Intwasa was crucial in ensuring farmers maximise available soil moisture and achieve optimal yields.
Speaking on preparations for the summer cropping season, Mrs Magwenzi said the Presidential Inputs Programme-supported Pfumvudza/Intwasa model remained one of the most effective conservation agriculture approaches for smallholder farmers.
She said farmers should start preparing their planting stations now while the soil still retains moisture from the recent rainy season.
“We are saying this is the time for farmers to go into their fields and prepare their planting stations,” she said.
“The ground is still moist, and farmers should remove the soil from the planting holes and leave them open so that any moisture from drizzles or early rains can be captured and stored.”
Mrs Magwenzi said the moisture harvested in the planting stations is preserved in the soil profile and becomes available to crops once planting begins.
She said this allows crops to survive extended dry periods as they continue drawing moisture from the ground even when rainfall is temporarily unavailable.
The success of the programme, she said, also depends on proper mulching, which is one of the key pillars of the Pfumvudza/Intwasa concept.
Mrs Magwenzi encouraged farmers to collect grass, crop residues and other organic materials now and preserve them for mulching during the cropping season.
She warned that farmers who neglect mulching risk losing valuable soil moisture, particularly during seasons characterised by dry spells and erratic rainfall.
“When you mulch, you preserve moisture in the soil. You also suppress weeds and improve soil conditions for crop growth. This becomes even more important when rainfall is not consistent,” she said.
Mrs Magwenzi said comparative assessments have consistently shown that Pfumvudza/Intwasa plots outperform conventionally tilled fields because of improved moisture conservation and better crop management practices.
She said farmers who fully implement the programme can achieve significantly higher yields than those relying on traditional farming methods.
“Yields from properly managed Pfumvudza plots are much higher. Depending on the crop variety and management practices, farmers can harvest between seven and 10 tonnes per hectare,” she said.
Mrs Magwenzi urged farmers to complement the programme by planting short-season crop varieties capable of maturing within shorter rainfall periods.
She said such varieties would help farmers maximise production even in seasons where rainfall distribution is less favourable.
To further cushion crops against moisture stress, Mrs Magwenzi encouraged farmers with access to irrigation facilities to utilise them whenever dry spells occur.
She noted that Government had facilitated access to affordable irrigation technologies that can be used by farmers with boreholes, wells and other water sources to provide supplementary irrigation.
“Some farmers have already acquired irrigation facilities capable of covering between three and five hectares,” she said.
“These can be used to provide minimal irrigation during dry spells and significantly improve crop performance and yields.”
Mrs Magwenzi said extension officers would continue working closely with farmers to ensure proper utilisation of irrigation infrastructure and adherence to recommended agronomic practices.
Mrs Magwenzi said success under Pfumvudza/Intwasa largely depended on timely preparation and strict adherence to the programme’s principles, which include minimum soil disturbance, mulching and efficient moisture management.
She said the programme had become a key pillar of the Government’s efforts to build climate resilience among farming communities while ensuring adequate food supplies at both household and national levels.
“As farmers prepare for the coming season, they should focus on doing the right things at the right time,” she said.
“Early preparation is the foundation for success and will help ensure food security is available everywhere and every day.”
Since its introduction, Pfumvudza/Intwasa has transformed crop production among many smallholder farmers by promoting sustainable farming practices, improving productivity and helping communities withstand the effects of climate variability and changing weather patterns.
