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Thandeka Moyo-Ndlovu, Senior Reporter
THE Government-sponsored Pfumvudza/Intwasa farming model has paid off for widows of war veterans in Bulawayo after they secured food for their families using the climate-proof method.

Pfumvudza/Intwasa

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.

Riding on the success of the Government-funded scheme during the 2020/21 agriculture season, the programme continues to attract interest from many farmers in Bulawayo, mostly youths and women who did not participate last season

The women grouped themselves and applied the conservation farming model at their farm in Nyamandlovu.

They recently harvested sunflower, sugar beans and maize which they intend to deliver to the Grain Marketing Board.

Grain Marketing Board (GMB)

The Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme, designed for small-scale farmers, has benefited 2,3 million households in the communal, A1, small-scale commercial farming and old resettlement sectors to produce cereals, oilseeds and legumes in the forthcoming summer cropping season.

Under the programme, each farming household will get an input package comprising 10 kg see maize, 5kg sorghum, 2kg pearl millet, 5kg soya bean, 2kg sunflower/castor bean (castor bean will be inter-cropped in the Pfumvudza crops for all crops) and 5kg sugar beans or 5kg cowpeas or round nuts.

Speaking during an interactive meeting with the farmers on Wednesday, Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Judith Ncube commended the women for being diligent in working for their livelihood.

She lauded them for deviating from the habit of relying on food handouts to feed their families.

“We are gathered here to take pride in these women whose husbands played a key role in bringing what we enjoy as Zimbabwe today,” she said.

“I am happy that they are not living off handouts but are taking advantage of Government projects to economically empower themselves, which is what is expected of every Zimbabwean,” said Minister Ncube. –@thamamoe