Urban farmers ecstatic as Government launches Intwasa Presidential Inputs Scheme in Bulawayo

URBAN farmers in Bulawayo yesterday lauded Government for launching the Pfumvudza/Intwasa Presidential Inputs Scheme, saying it will help boost food secure in light of the looming El Nino-induced drought.

Pfumvudza/Intwasa has helped the country attain food security in the last four seasons, at the same time boosting farm incomes as subsistence farmers are converted to small-scale commercial growers.

The concept has also come in handy as a way of mitigating the harsh effects of climate change that have caused severe food shortages in the wake of successive crop failures.

Under the model, households are expected to prepare a minimum of three plots under the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme with the Government supporting them with inputs and agricultural extension advisory services support.

Yesterday, Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Judith Ncube launched the Pfumvudza/Intwasa Presidential Inputs Scheme distribution programme at Nketa 8 Hall.

Hundreds of urban farmers were each given 2kgs of seed maize.

One of the beneficiaries Mrs Rachel Moyo from Nketa 8 expressed gratitude to President Mnangagwa for availing inputs at no cost.

“I’m so happy that I got seed as we have some small plots that we were given by the city council. We had prepared the land, but we hadn’t yet planted and now that we have received seed, I can start dry planting,” she said.

Mrs Moyo said the Presidential Inputs Scheme has over the years enabled her to feed her three grandchildren.

“I have three grandchildren and they are all of school going age. This programme will help me feed them when I harvest, and I know this coming year, I won’t have a headache in terms of food,” she said.

Mrs Margret Msipa from Nketa 8 said: “I’m a farmer and I rent a farm on the outskirts of Bulawayo which is about 4 hectares. I badly needed this seed maize so that I could also produce chicken feed since I am also a poultry farmer.”

Newly elected MP for Nketa Constituency, Cde Albert Mavunga said the Presidential Inputs Scheme will help the vulnerable groups in Bulawayo to be food secure.

“This seed maize from the Presidential Input Scheme is for all Zimbabweans and it will help the people to be food secure. We have vulnerable groups such as the people with disabilities, widows, the elderly and orphans who need help,” he said.

Minister Ncube, in a speech read on her behalf by Ms Boetsoarelo Noko, a director for co-ordination in her office, urged residents to embrace the Intwasa/Pfumvudza programme to enhance food security especially in urban areas.

“Each farmer must have a plot for maize crop and each farmer must have prepared the plot by digging planting basins or using a ripper to open farrows. I would like to urge every farmer to embrace Intwasa as we anticipate a rainfall season of normal and below normal rains for 2023 2024 season,” she said.

“We should also embrace the principles of Intwasa of mulching to conserve moisture and testing of the soil to facilitate soil conditioning to improve nutrient uptake by the crop from the soil. Our GMB depot is fully stocked with lime for conditioning.”

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Minister Ncube said timeous planting, weeding, pest control and efficient use of resources are critical tenets for the success of the Intwasa programme.

“From each standard plot of maize it is expected that each household will meet its food requirements and deliver excess produce to GMB. Sunflower, African pea, and sugar beans seeds will be distributed once available to support food and nutrition security at household level,” she said.

“I want to assure the farmers that the Government through the Department of Migratory and Pest Control and Bio Safety will work with farmers to contain the fall armyworm menace to reduce yield losses.”

Minister Ncube said President Mnangagwa has been supporting urban farmers in Bulawayo with inputs since the inception of Intwasa Pfumvudza.

“Since the inception of the Intwasa/Pfumvudza programme, His Excellency President Mnangagwa has supported Bulawayo residents with agricultural inputs such as chicks to improve our food security status and livelihoods,” she said.