Online Reporter
Precious Manomano
Herald Reporter
MORE than three million households are set to benefit from Government support during the forthcoming summer cropping season under the Climate-Proofed Presidential Inputs Scheme.
Under the Pfumvudza/Intwasa scheme, authorities will distribute agricultural inputs tailored to the country’s different agro-ecological regions to maximise production, guarantee food security and boost household incomes.
Pfumvudza has been hailed as an inclusive, climate-smart initiative that supports vulnerable households in communal, A1, small-scale commercial and old resettlement areas, enabling them to grow cereals, oilseeds and legumes.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary, Professor Obert Jiri, said preparations were on track, with farmers receiving inputs early this year.
“One of the programmes under Rural Development 8.0 is the Presidential Inputs Support Scheme. Through Pfumvudza, Government is supporting three million beneficiaries countrywide. Each household will receive an input package comprising seed, basal and top-dressing fertilisers, as well as technical agronomic support,” he said.
Prof Jiri encouraged farmers to begin potholing now to ensure timely land preparation.
He stressed that the programme is critical, as 61 percent of Zimbabwe’s population lives in rural areas and depends primarily on agriculture.
“To boost their incomes, farmers must achieve higher yields by planting the right crops and varieties suited to their regions,” he added.
Farmer organisations yesterday welcomed the early distribution of inputs.
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers union president, Dr Shadreck Makombe, said the move would increase yields and strengthen confidence among farmers.
“We are expecting another bumper harvest this coming season because Pfumvudza has never disappointed since it was introduced. It has become a success story for both small-scale and commercial farmers,” said Dr Makombe.
Zimbabwe Indigenous Women Farmers Association Trust president, Mrs Depinah Nkomo, also praised the programme, saying it would boost national productivity and reduce reliance on grain imports.
“This will increase yields and incomes while expanding the national hectarage. For farmers in dry regions, Pfumvudza is particularly effective because input packages now include the correct crops for their environments,” she said.
Last season, nearly three million farmers were trained in conservation agriculture, and early indications show strong enthusiasm for land preparation in the communal sector.
This year, each household will manage three Pfumvudza plots measuring 39m x 16m (0.0624 ha), with input packages tailored to their agro-ecological region.
Packages will also include water retention enhancers, herbicides for three plots, and fall armyworm control chemicals.
Traditional leaders will benefit under the Zunde raMambo/Isiphala seNkosi scheme, which will support 10 plots for chiefs, seven plots for headmen and five plots for village heads.
This season, the programme will target 300 chiefs, 500 headmen and 36 000 village heads, covering 9 587 hectares of maize and 5 478 hectares of sorghum.
To strengthen learning and accountability, each village will establish a Farmer Field School — 35 000 in total across the country — while new ward-level committees will be set up in areas where inputs were previously abused.
