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Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
ENTERPRENEURSHIP is crucial to the survival of small-holder farmers in the fast-changing national economy as sustainable cropping is key to the food and cash-flow problems faced by the majority of families in semi-arid communal areas that have infertile soils, a Cabinet Minister has said.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka said farmers should respond to adopt to the changing farming environment by acquiring skills that enable them to start and run profitable farming businesses.
Dr Masuka was addressing farmers at the Presidential (Pfumvudza) Inputs Distribution at Nehumba, Headlands, in Makoni District last week on Friday.
He challenged small-holder farmers to take advantage of training programmes offered by Government to create, develop and sustain their entrepreneurial skills.
His comments came at a time when everything has fallen into place for farmers – from the abundant early rains to the distribution of a full basket of Presidential farming inputs.
The availability of extension services will also make the 2022/23 agricultural season bigger and better.
Dr Masuka said small-holder farmers should take calculated risks to make their businesses more profitable.
He said Government is assisting 3,5 million households with a full basket of inputs this season and implored beneficiaries to follow the Pfumvudza concept holistically instead of cutting corners.
The Pfumvudza programme, which accounted for 56 percent of grain produced in Manicaland last season, has been scaled up to five plots measuring 39mx16m per household.
There are agro-ecological region-specific crop input packages for maize, sorghum, pearl millet, soya bean, sunflower, groundnuts, vegetables and African peas.
Dr Masuka said unlike previous seasons, distribution of inputs will not be uniform as allocation will differ according to natural regions.
Farmers were challenged to grow crops that are best suitable for their regions.
Most poor harvests have been as a result of poor planning, with most farmers insisting on planting of maize in areas that are unsuitable for it.
About 461 573 small-holder farmers are benefiting under the Pfumvudza programme to enhance food and nutrition security at household level.
About 24 150mt of Compound D, 23 150mt of top dressing fertilisers, 2 469mt of maize seed, 314mt of traditional grains and 483 000 combo packs of vegetable seed have been allocated to the province for the 2022/23 season.
Manicaland is targeting at least 265 000 hectares of maize, of which 20 000ha will be under Command Agriculture.
The small grains target has been set at 100 000ha.
“You must think and behave like entrepreneurs who are technically competent and innovative. You need to plan ahead and steer your farming business towards the attainment of Vision 2030 in your respective communities. Vision 2030 is not only targeted at urban areas, no, it should be realised in your respective communities, and it is for this reason that the President has put in place the Rural Development 8.0 Policy.
“You are no longer subsistence farmers, but entrepreneurs who should produce for the nation and sell the surplus to the Grain marketing Board (GMB). You are no longer producing what you need, but what is best suitable for your region. For the sake of the nation, grow crops that have a comparative advantage in your region so that you are more productive and sell the surplus,” he said.
Dr Masuka said Pfumvudza was formulated to enhance and commercialise agricultural productivity in communal rain-fed areas by focusing on integrated farming, moisture conservation efficiency, soil health management and synergise resource conservation.
“Pfumvudza is a concept and a principle towards enhancing a farmer’s harvest, especially in times when there is inadequate rainfall. Every stage of the process is as important as the next one and if you cut corners on just one, then all of them will fail.
“Pfumvudza is part of the precision agriculture model being promoted by Government, which if done properly will yield better harvests than conventional farming. It conserves the soil and moisture by using surface cover or mulch to minimise run-off and erosion. It also improves the conditions for plant growth. Crops are planted and then fertiliser or manure and water are applied directly into the basin which is protected by mulch,” he said.
Dr Masuka said those who abuse the inputs will be jailed for derailing the national vision to attain an upper middle income economy by 2030.
“Those who sell these inputs to buy cooking oil or sugar will be sent to jail. That is the position because you will be derailing the President’s Vision 2030. We shall conduct an audit to see if you put the inputs to good use,” he said.
Dr Masuka also said farmers should not pay anything towards the transportation of Pfumvudza inputs since Government has already availed resources to ensure they are delivered to collection points across the country.
“If you hear your Councillor, MP or anyone saying you should pay a dollar or whatever amount towards collection of the inputs, report those people to the police because the transport costs were paid by the President long back. GMB should deliver the inputs to your collection points,” he said.
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