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Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter

THE Government-sponsored Pfumvudza/Intwasa farming model has paid off for an elderly Tsholotsho couple that has secured its family’s food security and income using the climate-proofed method.

Pfumvudza/Intwasa is a conservation farming technique that involves use of small plots and applying the correct agronomic practices for higher returns.

The programme was designed for small-scale farmers and benefits more than two million households each year in the communal, A1, small-scale commercial farming and old resettlement sectors to produce cereals, oilseeds and legumes.

Under the programme, each farming household gets an input package comprising 10 kg seed maize, 5kg sorghum, 2kg pearl millet, 5kg soya beans, 2kg sunflower/castor and 5kg sugar beans or 5kg cow peas or round nuts ahead of each farming season.

Riding on the Government-funded scheme, Mr Albert Sibanda (75) and wife Mrs Sinikiwe Sibanda (65) of Mavimileni under Chief Siphoso in Tsholotsho, have defied old age as they deliver tonnes of grain to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) each year.

Mrs Sibanda was beaming with joy as she exhibited her produce at the recent Matabeleland North Agricultural Show Society in Hwange.

It was her first time at the annual expo, but has showcased at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo before.

Mrs Sibanda was the only small scale farmer from Tsholotsho Rural District Council Ward 7 at the Matabeleland North exhibition while her husband remained at home taking care of their homestead, livestock and farm produce which they finished harvesting recently.

The couple lives on its own after its six grown up children moved out. The last born and only son, aged 20, is based in South Africa while five daughters are married and stay with their husbands.

Usually, such an elderly couple could be growing crops enough for its consumption or only wait to be fed by children, handouts from Government and well-wishers.

This is different for the Sibandas despite old age as the couple is one of the notable farmers that have been consistently delivering grain at the GMB over the years.

Mrs Sibanda said last year they delivered four tonnes of maize and two tonnes of millet. This year, she said, she expects to deliver two tonnes of maize, sorghum, millet, groundnuts and round nuts after using Intwasa farming method.

Mrs Sibanda said she and her husband grow maize, millet, sorghum, groundnuts, round nuts and cow peas.

“We delivered four tonnes of maize to GMB last year and two tonnes of millet. For this year we are not sure how many tonnes we will send because we haven’t finished packing our produce. We are done harvesting but we are still sorting it out.

“What I only know is that we will deliver more than two tonnes of maize to GMB. We expect our groundnuts to be about 2 tonnes and also one tonne of round nuts,” she said.

Mrs Sibanda said she also expects more than a tonne of sorghum.

She said she usually sells part of ground nuts, round nuts and cow peas to neighbours in her community to cushion her family’s income.

She says she usually puts aside part of her produce which they would use to pay labourers who help them prepare the land and weed their crops, thereby providing employment and source of living for the community.

Mrs Sibanda said they also help vulnerable community members with grain.

“We have been practicing Intwasa farming method which has been helping us a lot. We usually benefit from Government input schemes and last year we got more seeds from the ZITF.

“This year the yields went down because of poor rains but we thank God because we will be able to deliver something to GMB and give vulnerable people to enhance food sustenance.

Our six children moved out and to be able to manage, we use grain to employ labourers who help us prepare the land and weed,” she said. -@ncubeleon