Harare (New Ziana) – Farmers with small pieces of land in peri-urban areas of Harare are revelling in the government sponsored Pfumvudza/Intwasa program for assisting them achieve food self-sufficiency the same way as communities in rural parts of the country.

In separate interviews this week, subsistence farmers around Stapleford in Mount Hampden, about 26 kilometers northwest of the capital, commended the program for assisting in alleviating their poverty through boosting crop production, ensuring food security at household level for the past three years in decades of annually fighting off near starvation.

“We benefited a lot from this program, especially when there is below to average rainfall in the country because we do mulching and apply green manure which retains moisture as we grow crops like beans on the gaps between crops,” said Zhiwawo Tsangu.

Tsangu said the farmers are working in groups of up to 20 people on their plots to dig holes and find mulching.
The plots contain 20 by 150 holes and produce about a ton of maize for each farmer, enabling them to keep their families fed, clothed and in school.

Sehlule Mpepho who is a team leader, said the free seeds and fertilizers had been coming in good time for them to plant their crops.

“Government sponsored seeds and fertilizers and agricultural extension workers support us to grow crops professionally. The council encourages us to grow crops 30 metres away from riverbanks and roads,” she said, adding that complying with council rules was saving them from having their crops destroyed, as was the norm in the past.

Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development permanent secretary Dr Obert Jiri said the urban population consumes about 864 000 metric tons of grain yet do not produce enough because the open spaces they use are temporary and utilised for household food production only.

“We are working with local authorities across the country for the purpose of encouraging compliance with environmental issues because some farmers have been cultivating along stream banks and closer to roads,” he said.

Pfumvudza/Intwasa is a concept aimed at climate-proofing agriculture by adopting conservation farming techniques and involves use of small plots and applying the correct agronomic practices for higher returns.

New Ziana