Staff Reporter

Government  has  put  in place  sustainable  agriculture  based  measures  to  secure  a  bumper  harvest  in  the  2022/23  farming  season  through smooth  inputs  distribution, registration  and  training  of farmers on  Pfumvudza/Intwasa farming model.

Speaking in a post Cabinet Briefing yesterday, acting Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Jenfan Muswere said farmers registration and training exercises was underway whilst the distribution of inputs and fertilises across all provinces was now at an advanced stage. He also added that distribution of the agricultural inputs was being guided by ecological zone requirements. 

“Inputs distribution, registration and training on Pfumvudza/Intwasa are in progress, with distribution continuing to be done according to agro-ecological zone requirements. Cabinet highlights that 82% (58 958 metric tonnes) of the received basal fertilizer has been distributed across the provinces, while 69% (14 297 metric tonnes) of the received top dressing fertiliser have been distributed. Planting has commenced in many areas,” said Minister Muswere.

The Minister added that Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe (CBZ) and the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) have commenced registering farmers and availing inputs, under the National Enhanced Agricultural Productivity Scheme (NEAPS).

According to Minister Muswere, CBZ was targeting to support a total of 170 000 hectares under maize (150 000 hectares) and soya beans (20 000 hectares), while AFC was targeting 65 000 hectares under maize (55 000 hectares), soya beans (5 000 hectares), traditional grains (2 000 hectares) and sunflower (3 000 hectares).

At the same Post Cabinet media briefing, Minister Muswere informed that land covering 1530667 hectares for the production of maize, soya beans, sorghums, cotton and tobacco for the 2022/23 farming season has been prepared. He added that the Presidential Rural Poultry and Government Schemes has also distributed 291 750 chickens and 3158 goats respectively.

Meanwhile, the Second Republic has to date drilled 435 boreholes under the  Presidential  Borehole  Scheme  in a bid to  reduce  water shortages  to  farmers and communal areas so as to help achieve food  sufficiency in the country.