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Senior Business Reporter

PREPARATIONS for 2022/2023 Intwasa/Pfumvudza cropping season are at an advanced stage in Matabeleland South with inputs registration, land preparation and training in progress.

This year the distribution of inputs will be according to agro-ecological regions to ensure maximum production.

Matabeleland South, which falls largely under agricultural region 5 and meteorological region 3, needs above 450mm of rain per season for crops to do well.

Acting provincial Agritex director, Mr Mkhunjulelwa Ndlovu, yesterday told Chronicle that inputs would be distributed as soon as they are delivered in the province.

“We are busy registering beneficiaries, assisting with land preparation and training new farmers and we are looking at 130 000 new farmers from all the seven administrative districts,” he said.

“Inputs would be distributed as soon as they are delivered in the province. 

“So far, we have trained 298 members of staff and 58 048 new farmers from all the seven districts on Pfumvudza/Intwasa as we prepare for the summer cropping season.”

According to the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, farmers in region 3 are encouraged to grow medium-season and short-season varieties that require less rainfall compared to long-season varieties.

Mr Mkhunjulelwa Ndlovu

“Farmers in region 3 will get two mandatory maize plots and sorghum or sunflower plot, three optional plots comprising of sunflower, pearl millet, groundnuts, African peas and sugar beans,” said Mr Ndlovu.

“It must be noted that the two mandatory maize plots in region 3 will give economic yield. In region 3, the amount and reliability within a season tend to be lower and erratic. It is important for farmers to grow medium-season and short-season varieties that require less rainfall compared to long-season varieties.”

Government is targeting 3,5 million households for this year’s Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme and measures have been put in place to guard against abuse in the input distribution process.

The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development has duly joined forces with key stakeholders such as Agricultural Advisory and Rural Development Services (Ardas), Grain Marketing Board (GMB) and the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) to ensure the process is closely monitored and supervised from the beginning to the end.

Grain Marketing Board (GMB)

AMA has since invited institutions or individuals involved in contract farming, manufacturing, buying or selling of agricultural inputs to register or renew their licenses. It said the season runs from October 1 to 30 September.

The GMB, which was awarded the contract to distribute inputs for the 2022/23 summer cropping season, is set to commence distributing them soon while the Ministry of Agriculture has since remodelled the distribution chain to promote traceability and accountability.

Intwasa inputs distribution is set to start on September 30, with the Government expecting the farmer training and digging of planting holes to be concluded on the same day.