By Scholastic Madabudabu
MHONDORO MUBAIRA – A FEMALE farmer from Marenga Village in Ward 4 of Mhondoro-Mubaira Constituency of Mashonaland West Province is the star of the Pfumvudza programme, as her efforts left Government officials in awe over her grasp of the concept.
The Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Dr Anxious Masuka last week led a Government delegation on a tour of Pfumvudza plots in Mhondoro-Mubaira Constituency, and Biata Chidyamari’s homestead was a shining example of how the farmer has grasped and is implementing the concept.
The delegation witnessed thriving maize crops on Pfumvudza/Intwasa plots. The ministry is currently undertaking a monitoring and evaluation exercise of the 2024-2025 summer season.
Addressing the media during the tour, Minister Masuka said the day’s event had demonstrated how that Pfumvudza/Intwasa concept had been fully grasped by farmers as communal farmers can now produce maize crops such as Chidyamari’s can certainly compare with any in a commercial farming set up.
He heaped praise on the female farmer, saying that Chidyamari had followed the concept religiously, rolling out on time, mulching, organic matter placement and also the choice of the seed variety showing that the farmer was already on her way to ensuring food security for her household.
Mashonaland West Province, he said, had done extremely well as it has 1.9 million Pfumvudza/Intwasa plots against the provincial target of 1.6 million plots.
Farmer Chidyamari ordinarily produces a tonne during a good year on her Pfumvudza plots, and last year, she produced 14 bags of maize during the drought season. Her thriving crops this year include groundnuts and other traditional grain crops.
Some farmers in Mhondoro-Mubaira Constituency felt proud to have a female farmer taking the lead in the agriculture sector, with many saying they had been encouraged to practise the same concept.
The Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme, has been hailed as a game-changer in Mashonaland West Province in terms of its capacity to create food security status at household levels.
Expressing his appreciation on the progress made so far, Dr Masuka said: “We are targeting 9.5 million plots of Pfumvudza/Intwasa, and as of yesterday, we had done 10.5 million here in Mashonaland West.”
The minister praised the province for surpassing its target of 1.6 million plots, with 1.9 million plots already under cultivation. “The Pfumvudza concept has been fully grasped, and we can see the impact here in Mubaira, which can certainly compare with any commercial set up.”
Community representatives including MP Chamu Chiwanza, Biata Chidyamari and Nicholous Mazonde from Ward 4 echoed the minister’s observations, expressing gratitude for the scheme.
“We had land, but it was of no use because we didn’t have enough inputs. But due to the scheme, we are grateful because we can see a life there, food security, fees, and everything through farming,” said Mazonde.
The Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme aims to ensure food security and improve livelihoods for rural communities. With the Government’s support, farmers are receiving inputs, including seeds and fertilizers, to boost their yields.
As the country emerges from the worst drought in 43 years, the minister emphasised the need for local innovation and community-led initiatives to support the scheme.
“Where Government has delayed in distributing inputs, the local community must take the initiative and put resources once-off to be able to take the inputs from the nearest depot to their areas,” he suggested
The field tour was a testament to the Government’s commitment to supporting rural communities and ensuring food security in the country.
Added Chidyamari: “The Pfumvudza/Intwasa scheme has brought life to our land and we are grateful for the Government’s support.” – Rural Communication Services.
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