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Judge Jarachara, Chronicle Reporter
VILLAGERS from ward two in Umguza, Matabeleland North have hailed the Government for implementing the successful Intwasa/Pfumvudza programme which they say has enhanced their food security.

The families who are, for the first time, looking forward to harvesting enough to take them to the next farming season, expressed gratitude to the Government during a tour of the ward by Agritex officer Mrs Buyiphumelelo Ngwenya.

More than 220 households in the ward benefitted from the Government’s Intwasa/Pfumvudza Programme.

Under the Intwasa/Pfumvudza farming concept, popularly known as Gatshompo in Matabeleland region, farmers received inputs which include cowpeas, groundnuts, cotton seed as well as fertilizer and chemicals.

Government adopted Intwasa/Pfumvudza to address the problem of low productivity, which continued to negatively affect the country’s food security.

The concept promotes climate proofing agriculture by adopting conservation farming techniques and it involves the utilisation of small pieces of land and application of the correct agronomic practices for higher returns.

Mr Elisha Chakazamba, one of the farmers whose plot was visited and assessed by Mrs Ngwenya could not stop praising the initiators of the programme.

“Each time I look at my fields, I ask myself a question — are these mine?’ Truly speaking, the past two to three years were hell on earth,” he said.

Another villager Mr Hilton Ncube thanked the Government for the scheme.

“We thank the Government for the initiative but we are asking for recognition in horticulture programmes,” he said.

Mrs Ngwenya said she was happy with the response she got from the farmers from the beginning to the end.

However, she lamented the naysayers who did not join the programme.

“Pfumvunza is the best deal and is the only way to go especially given the rainfall pattern in this region. I urge those who did not join Pfumvudza to join it next time and contribute to national food security,” she said.

Mrs Ngwenya said out of 223 households, she was certain that more than 150 will have enough food and even surplus to sell to the Grain Marketing Board.

“I have been doing my assessments, I am now certain that people will get better yields this year compared to the past three seasons. I think we have to be grateful to the Government for coming up with such a noble idea,” said Mrs Ngwenya.

She said the programme could not have been such a success without the commitment of participants.

“Farmers demonstrated commitment, they kept on seeking guidance and through that we are here today,” she said. — @jdgjarachara