By Staff reporter
Matabeleland North Province is targeting 76 660 metric tonnes of maize in the 2020/21 cropping season under the Pfumvudza/Intwasa Climate Proofed Agriculture Scheme being supported by Government.
Under the scheme, government is providing inputs such as fertilizer and seed.
Matebeleland North Province Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Richard Moyo said the Government scheme would ensure food security at household level.
“As a province, we have an obligation to produce at least 76 660 metric tonnes of maize from 86 300 hectares under the Pfumvudza/Intwasa Climate Proofed Agriculture Scheme, the Command Agriculture Scheme and other private funding models this 2020/2021 farming season. “This will form the basis of our provincial food security,” Moyo said.
Moyo said the Government scheme was open to all.
“I urge all of us to be interested in this food security investment. This will ensure our household food security, especially as Zimbabwe’s Agriculture Sector drives towards a USD8 billion industry by year 2025,” he said.
Farmers who spoke to Harare Post in Umguza and Bubi districts said they had already started planting.
“We are not going back on the Intwasa scheme, we have since planted and crops from some of the plots have already germinated. We were given all the inputs, ours is just labour, said Mrs Soneni Moyo from Bubi district.
Another farmer, Jairosi Nkiwane from Umguza district said it was possible for Matebeleland North to produce own food.
“The province can produce own food and with this support rendered by government, the journey has started. Soon we will be producing enough maize for the province,” Nkiwane said.
Through the 2021 National Budget, Government’s total support to agriculture amounts to ZWL$46.3 billion. This is in addition to the ZWL$6.1 billion provided under the ZWL$18.2 billion Stimulus Package towards stimulating agricultural production.
Government support is being complemented by private sector and individual farmer initiatives as well as development partner support. Consequently, for the 2020/21 farming season, a contract equivalent to US$253 million has been signed with local banks to support commercial farmers, and Government is providing guarantees on a case by case basis.
