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Sikhumbuzo Moyo and Raymond Jaravaza, Chronicle Writers

GOVERNMENT has pulled all stops to accelerate the distribution of inputs across provinces amid the onset of early rains while farmers finalise land preparation under the Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme to ensure the country achieves a bumper harvest.

Coming out of a devastating El-Nino-induced drought in the last season, Zimbabwe has set a target of reaching 3,5 million rural and peri-urban households under this year’s Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme with inputs allocation being guided by ecological regional patterns.

To ease the workload on farmers, especially the elderly, the Government is encouraging the adoption of mechanised Pfumvudza/Intwasa, which requires less manual labour than traditional methods.

Bubi District Intwasa Pfumvudza Launch

Since its introduction under the Second Republic in the 2020/2021 farming season, the Pfumvudza/Intwasa model has become instrumental in ensuring household food security through adoption of smart interventions in the face of climate change — moving from subsistence farming toward commercial viability.

The programme targets households in communal, A1, small-scale commercial farming, and old resettlement areas who receive tailor-made training and guidance on preparing plots for producing cereals, oilseeds, and legumes.
Following the national launch two weeks ago in Buhera, Manicaland, provinces are cascading the inputs distribution programme to districts and wards to ensure no one and no place is left behind.

Matabeleland South has already done its launch while Matabeleland North conducted a similar programme this week Tuesday in Bubi District. Matabeleland North has set a target of 600 000 Pfumvudza/ Intwasa plots with 54 percent of the target already met.

While farmers are excited by the early downpours, which soaked some parts of the country since last week, Government has said it is too early to start planting, rather urging farmers to go aggressive on land preparation with planting set for November.
In an interview, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Professor Obert Jiri, said: “We are on the verge of the start of the planting season and farmers are very keen to know if they can start planting. Parts of the country received some rains but that does not signify the start of the planting season.”

He said in areas such as Mvuma and Bindura that received significant rains in the last couple of days, farmers must take that as a cue to start preparing their land.

Inputs for the IntwasaPfumvudza Programme ready for distribution in Matobo District in Matabeleland South Province

“In those areas that received significant rains farmers can start liaising with local ARDAS (Agricultural Advisory Services) officers for advice on whether to start planting but for the greater part of the country farmers must wait for early next month to start planting when we expect the rainy season to officially start,” said Prof Jiri.

“Life always smiles on a prepared man and at this stage we encourage farmers to start preparing their land.
He said that farmers can start procuring seed, chemicals and fertilisers.

Bubi District Intwasa Pfumvudza Launch

“In terms of our programming, we are preparing the usual programmes namely Pfumvudza/Intwasa, private sector contracting and self-financing. Private sector companies have started contracting farmers and some have also started giving farmers loans and inputs to prepare adequately,” said Prof Jiri. “On the Pfumvudza programme, we have started moving inputs with the official launch already done in Buhera on 16 October and that signified the official roll out of inputs at a national level.

“We expect all provinces to expedite the distribution of inputs to farmers. We have so far moved more than 40 percent of fertiliser and the movement of seed has been much slower but it is much faster to move. So, we expect in the next two weeks to have all the seed in the GMB (Grain Marketing Board) depots.”
At ward level, Government expects local leadership to liaise with the Grain Marketing Board for the smooth movement and distribution of inputs, said Prof Jiri who warned farmers against abusing the Government inputs distribution programme by selling seed, chemicals and fertilisers instead of utilising the inputs properly.

“The country cannot move forward and achieve food security when we still have farmers that collect inputs only to sell them for a song,” he said.

Speaking during the launch of the 2024/25 Provincial Intwasa/Pfumvudza/ Isiphala seNkosi/Zunde Ramambo Programme in Ward 11, Bubi District, Matabeleland North Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Cde Richard Moyo, challenged farmers to play ball and take advantage of Government support to produce higher yields.

“We don’t want to hear of anyone being left out of this programme. However, it is only those who would have done at least three plots.
“We are here koSibanda where he has already done five plots, which is wonderful, and it’s such farmers that make Government programmes like these a success,” said Cde Moyo.

“Let’s emulate him instead of us starting to come up with aspersions that other unnatural means are assisting him.”
He assured farmers that the inputs would reach everyone in all the seven administrative districts of the province and that transport challenges have been addressed.

“Our province got into a twinning arrangement with a Chinese province (Shanxi Province) who gave us some money to assist in the delivery of grain for the drought relief programme but that money can also be channelled towards this farming inputs programme because it basically serves the same purpose,” Moyo said.

He commended Government for its focus on the transformation of rural communities, which is consistent with the collective aspirations and determination of the province of becoming an empowered and prosperous Upper Middle-Income Society by 2030.

“My province is not left behind in its endeavor to contribute towards food security everywhere and every day,” said Minister Moyo.
He said the painful lessons learnt from the 2023/24 El Nino-induced drought was that the nation has to consolidate climate-proofing agriculture at both household and national level.

“The Second Republic, under the visionary leadership of President Mnangagwa is accelerating irrigation development in the province so that about 10 000 hectares can be unlocked in the Lake Gwayi-Tshangani project as the main provincial project,” he said.
“This will further be complemented by other partners who are also embarking on similar initiatives across the province.
“At household level the adoption of the Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme, which is based on conservation agriculture principle will climate-proof agriculture and ensure household food security.”

ARDAS Matabeleland North acting director Mr Thulani Ndlovu, has said the province is expecting to realise 1,2 metric tonnes harvest under the programme.

Meanwhile, Minster Moyo handed over inputs to 35 farmers from the district who received two 50kg bags of Compound D and top dressing fertiliser, 5kg of sorghum seeds, 2kg cow peas, 2kg sunflower seeds and a pack of horticultural pack, which contain tomato seeds onions, leafy vegetables and a choice of butternut, carrots or beetroot.
Under the Isiphala seNkosi, each chief will get two 250kgs of Compound D and top dressing fertiliser, 15kgs of sorghum seeds while village heads are getting two 100kgs of compound D and top dressing fertilisers, as well as 10kgs of sorghum seeds.

Host farmer Mr Sibanda expressed gratitude to Government for the inputs support saying this will go a long way in empowering farmers to improve their yields and provide towards the national vision of a food secure nation.