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Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief

FARMERS registered under the Government’s climate-proofed Pfumvudza/Intwasa scheme in the Midlands province have started receiving inputs.

The province is targeting 500 000 farmers under the programme for this summer cropping season.
Across the country, more than three million farmers have registered for the conservation agriculture scheme, with at least 1,5 million having undergone training to date.

While the Southern Africa Regional Climate Outlook Forum has predicted normal to above normal rainfall for the 2022-2023 season, the Meteorological Services Department recently issued a localised rainfall forecast that predicts the season will come into full swing from the first week of November.

Across the Midlands province, farmers have been digging holes while others have started planting after receiving inputs under Pfumvudza/ Intwasa programme.

Agriculture

The Government is pulling out all the stops to ensure farmers are prepared ahead of time to guarantee a bumper harvest.

In an interview, Midlands Provincial Agronomist, Mr Innocent Dzuke, said the distribution of farming inputs especially seed maize in the province’s eight districts was progressing well.

“Farmers registered under the climate-proofed Pfumvudza/Intwasa scheme in the Midlands province have started receiving farming inputs,” he said.

Mr Dzuke said the Grain Marketing Board Kwekwe depot as of Friday had received 45.8 tons of seed maize for distribution to farmers while Zhombe had received 70 tons for distribution to farmers.

“GMB Gweru 30 tons, Tongogara 65 tons, Mvuma 78 tons, Nembudziya, Zvishavane, Charandura and Gokwe deports received 30 tons and GMB Mataga 85,9 tons. So, we are talking of a total of 494,7 tons of maize seed that has been distributed to the depots for onward distribution to farmers,” he said.
Under sunflower seed, he said a total of 6,8 tons had been distributed to two depots in Kwekwe and Mvuma.

Mr Dzuke encouraged farmers to continue with land preparation as they wait for other farming inputs, which he said are on the way.

Grain Marketing Board (GMB)

“A total of 3 695 tons of compound D fertilisers and 733 tons of top dressing have been distributed. We are waiting for the delivery of other inputs such as small grains and cotton for onward distribution to the farmers,” he said.

Mr Dzuke said the Midlands was targeting to have 500 000 farmers under the Pfumvudza/ Intwasa programme for this summer cropping season.

“We want to increase the number of plots under this programme to improve food sufficiency in the province,” he said.

The estimated total maize output of close to three million tons set by the Government is way above the national requirement of 2,2 million tons and there will be a surplus of around 700  000 tons, which will form the national strategic grain reserve.

Livestock

The total cereal production last season was 1,7 million tons against a national cereal requirement of 2,2 million tons (1,8 million tons for human consumption and 350 000 tons for livestock).