The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
AGRITEX has trained at least 80 percent of households in Manicaland to adopt efficient and sustainable Pfumvudza techniques, with those who have completed the pot-holing of the required five plots being given their allocation of inputs.
Of the five plots, three are for cereals (maize, sorghum and pearl millet) and the other two are for oilseeds like groundnuts, soya or castor bean.
Each plot measures 39x16m and farmers should produce a least a tonne per plot.
Apart from scaling up the programme to five plots, the programme will this season include cotton, targeted at farmers in extremely dry areas of Nyanga, Chipinge, Buhera, Makoni and Mutare districts.
Manicaland Provincial Agritex officer, Mrs Phillipa Rwambiwa, said they were targeting 345 000 households in Manicaland.
“About 271 000 households have been trained from 345 000 households being targeted in the province, and we hope by mid-October all farmers will be ready to plant with the first rains. Those who have completed the required five plots have already started receiving their allocations of inputs from the Grain Marketing Board (GMB),” said Mrs Rwambiwa.
“The programme has been broadened to include cotton, especially for farmers in drier parts of Chipinge, Nyanga, Makoni, Mutare and Buhera. Cotton farmers will, under the programme, be allocated free Presidential Inputs for a 0.4 hectare,” said Mrs Rwambiwa.
The Pfumvudza programme involves a soil reconditioning blitz, which gives farmers information on nutrient status of their soil along with recommendation on appropriate dosage of nutrients required to improve its health and fertility.
Mrs Rwambiwa said farmers must do soil tests and apply lime and fertilisers as per the recommendation of tests results.
Pfumvudza was formulated to enhance and commercialise agricultural productivity in communal rain-fed areas by focusing on integrated farming, moisture conservation efficiency, soil health management and synergise resource conservation.
A survey by The Manica Post in Manicaland established that some farmers have already finished pot-holing and gathering mulch.
Some have already collected inputs from GMB depots across the province.
Some farmers are acquiring additional inputs such as seed maize, fertilisers and chemicals with a view to increase their hectarage and subsequently the yield.
On the other hand, major fertiliser producer — Chemplex Corporation — has pledged to produce cheaper and adequate mineral fertilisers that are enhanced with micro-nutrients that are specific to different types of soil tests.
This comes against the backdrop of a highly successful 2020/21 season where almost everything fell into place from the abundant rains, to the availability of inputs and timely extension services.
Manicaland is targeting at least 220 000 hectares of maize, of which 20 000ha will be under Command Agriculture.
Small grains target has been set at 100 000ha.
Mrs Rwambiwa said registration of farmers under Command Agriculture is progressing well.
“Registration of farmers is in progress, but for them to be contracted, they should have delivered to GMB and paid at least 80 percent of their loans,” said Mrs Rwambiwa.
She said about 10 percent of the early planted wheat was ready for harvesting, with the bulk of farmers expected to be through by mid-October.
“Only 10 percent of the winter wheat is ready for harvesting, with the majority of the farmers expected to be harvesting between October 1 and October 20.
We expect the bulk of the farmers to have harvested before the onset of the rains. Combine harvesters will be availed through AFC Bank and ARDA, under which facilities farmers in the same region will be clustered, and pay after delivering to the GMB,” said Mrs Rwambiwa.
