Staff Reporter
In a significant boost for food security and community empowerment, smallholder farmers in Chimanimani, during the weekend, demonstrated remarkable success in embracing the Pfumvudza/ Intwasa farming concept contributing substantially to the nation’s grain reserves.
The initiative, aimed at promoting sustainable agricultural practices, has seen each household in the region deliver at least one 50kg bag of grain to the local Grain Marketing Board (GMB), marking a milestone for local farming communities.
Stakeholders and community leaders gathered to honor their hard work and commitment to agriculture.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Manicaland, Advocate Misheck Mugadza expressed his satisfaction on the farmers' dedication.
"It is incredible to see how our smallholder farmers have embraced the Pfumvudza/Intwasa farming concept. This is not just about growing crops; it's about securing our future and ensuring food on every table, after embracing the pfumvudza farming concept each household managed to deliver at least 1 bag ( 1 × 50kg ) of grain to the local Grain Marketing Board.
“President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who has been a strong advocate for agricultural transformation, has reiterated his commitment to leaving no one behind in the journey towards achieving Vision 2030, a goal that envisions Zimbabwe becoming a prosperous and upper-middle-income country. In this regard the Government is promoting social inclusion of previously marginalized groups such as youths, people with disabilities and women in Agriculture,” advocate Mugadza said.
In addition advocate Mugadza gave statics on the Province’s contribution to the national grain reserves.
“Manicaland Province has shown a strong performance in contributing to the nation’s grain reserves. To date, 536.082 metric tons (MT) of grain have been delivered to GMB depots across the province, with Chimanimani’s own depot receiving 247.099 MT. These figures underscore the community’s unyielding commitment to agriculture and their contribution to national food security, advocate Mugadza stated.
One of the beneficiaries and community leader, Mr. Rafwell Tendekai lauded Government for introducing this set of skill as the community has succeeded in fighting the El-Nino induced drought.
“We have learned new techniques that have helped us grow more with less. This means more food for our families despite the droughts and a better income for our communities. We are truly grateful for the support that we are getting from the Government and look forward to even better harvests in the future,” Mr. Tendekai said.
The Pfumvudza program, which involves the use of climate-smart agriculture techniques such as conservation farming, has been a game-changer for many smallholder farmers. The approach, characterized by minimum tillage and the use of organic mulching, helps to conserve moisture and nutrients in the soil, resulting in higher yields even in drought-prone areas like Chimanimani.
As Zimbabwe continues its journey towards Vision 2030, the efforts of Chimanimani smallholder farmers serve as a beacon of hope and an example of what can be achieved through commitment, innovation, and inclusive development. With the Government’s continued support and the unwavering dedication of its people, Chimanimani and other farming communities across the country are poised to play a crucial role in ensuring that no one is left behind in the quest for a prosperous Zimbabwe.
