Pfumvudza/ Intwasa programme for colleges

GWEBI – PFUMVUDZA/Intwasa is now an integral part of farming as the Government is
aiming to attain food security.

The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Mashonaland West,
Marian Chombo, has been moving around the province, supporting the Pfumvudza
programme, at the same time distributing inputs.

The Government has adopted the Pfumvudza/Intwasa and the Farmer Field School
Concept as a way to improve production and productivity and on Tuesday Minister
launched the Pfumvudza/Intwasa for colleges at Gwebi Agricultural College in Nyabira.

One of the students, who is also the president of the students’ representative body at
the college, Cynthia Makiwa, said the introduction of Pfumvudza at the college has been
a success since they usually focus on experiments on soil, and will help them achieve
what they are learning.

“Yes, the Pfumvudza launch was a success as the college received inputs. The inputs
are meant for the 95 plots which were set aside by Gwebi for students. This concept
has assisted in various ways such as nutrition, knowledge and inter relations at the
college.

“The plots were arranged in such a way that all students will participate and it is a
mixture of first and second years being a boy and a girl.
“The students will be using the harvest for their meals in the dining hall. The college
usually does experimental plots with seed and chemical companies and gets harvest.
Pfumvudza has come as an experiment for different mulch and basal so that the student
gains more knowledge and it is a benefit to the college,” said Makiwa.
Minister in her speech at Gwebi College, said it is a good thing that students are
participating in the Pfumvudza programme and for the 2023/24 season and working
together with Department of Agritex to ensure food security.
“I am pleased to witness that Gwebi College is one of many other Farmer Field Schools,
where we are learning and sharing information on Pfumvudza/Intwasa and it dovetails
well with the training being done here.

“I am told students are participating in the programme and what we are witnessing here
today are plots prepared by students and staff here at Gwebi. A total of 96 plots have
been prepared by students and maize is going to be sown in these plots.
“I understand that Gwebi College together with Department of Agritex believe that this
has come at an opportune time in the sense that farmers need to be aware of the
changing environment and be able to mitigate against all the changes in an effort to
have food security.
“It is also my hope that this official launch will reach as many farmers as possible. Rural
development 8.0 is part of this thrust, aiming for an upper middle income economy by
2030. I am also glad that Gwebi College acknowledges what the Department of Agritex
is doing in spreading the gospel of Pfumvudza in the province. I am pleased with the
team effort complementing each other as business advisers. Continue to work as a
team,” said Chombo.
The Principal at Gwebi College, Shupikai Sibanda, said they appreciate the gesture by
Government and said it is the first time to receive the inputs for Pfumvudza programme.
“This launch of Pfumvudza/Intwasa for the Agricultural Colleges is a first of its kind and
we are proud. As Gwebi we have deliberately joined hands with ARDAS to send the
Pfumvudza programme far.
“We are also involved in research in the plots where we are looking at the type of mulch,
the amount of mulch and the timing of the mulch that we have applied and we believe it
is going to contribute so much on the Pfumvudza programme, said the principal.