The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
A WOMEN’s rights group is ameliorating the Pfumvudza programme in Makoni by availing agricultural inputs and agronomic training for women to boost their families’ food security and open alternative revenue streams for them.
Pfumvudza is one of the key pillars of the Agriculture Recovery Plan, a Government blueprint aimed at reversing declining productivity in the agricultural sector.
It puts agriculture on firm foundation to contribute significantly to a pro-poor and inclusive economic growth trajectory, which is key in the attainment of Vision 2030.
The gesture from the Women’s Action Group (WAG) is aimed at promoting inclusive and sustainable food systems to extricate resource-poor women from poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition.
Each beneficiary received 20kgs of seed maize, 100kgs of basal fertiliser, 150kgs of top-dressing fertiliser, pesticides and herbicides after digging holes, applying manure and gathering mulch as required under the Pfumvudza programme.
The beneficiaries are ready to plant with the first rains.
One of the beneficiaries, Ms Annah Mangwiro of Mawango Village said the assistance was timely as the high costs of inputs had pushed her into debt.
“I am a capable farmer, but I lacked the necessary resources. I am grateful that WAG has come to the rescue of poor rural female farmers who hardly get recognition from most people.
“We received inputs for planting using the Pfumvudza method. I have prepared more than 6 000 holes and l am ready to plant with the early rains. This is a prayer answered, and surely you will witness wonders as nothing will stop me from producing enough for family consumption and some surplus for sale,” vowed Ms Mangwiro.
Another beneficiary, Ms Rosemary Banga of Nyakwima village said empowered women have the capacity to make a difference in their communities by improving household food security and nutritious food varieties for their families.
Ms Banga said women are vital in the development of rural economies, although they are occasionally hamstrung by limited access to credit, education, land ownership, high quality inputs and good agronomic training services.
“We need integrated rural women economic empowerment programmes that answers to the multiple challenges confronting us as agents of change. We need measures that guarantee rural women access to productive resources and market opportunities,” said Ms Banga.
“I had resigned to fate, contemplating to leave my fields untilled as I could not afford the expensive inputs. The heavens have smiled on me, and surely I will work assiduously to meet or exceed production expectations. I am motivated to produce, I will not misuse this rare opportunity,” she said.
Ward 20 representative, Councillor Angela Chitsike said women are agents of positive change in the fight against rural poverty, hunger and malnutrition.
“Empower rural women with resources and you will see wonders. With this kind of capacitation, farm yields will increase significantly,” said Clr Chitsike.
WAG executive director, Mrs Edina Masiiwa said beneficiaries were selected by Women in Land Zimbabwe and the local leadership.
She said empowering women and ensuring their equal access to productive resources is at the core of enhancing agricultural sustainability and food security.
“We believe that if women have access to agriculture inputs, they will be able to sustain themselves. We will be monitoring this project to gauge its outcome, and funds permitting, we will expand it to other equally deserving rural women. We are playing our part to compliment Government efforts to promote agricultural production through the Pfumvudza programme,” said Mrs Masiiwa.
Women have traditionally had challenges with access to tillage and irrigation facilities and are set to benefit more from the Government sponsored Pfumvudza programme.
Many female small-holder farmers do not have draught power and cannot afford irrigation equipment. Pfumvudza has presented a better option for them as they only have to make planting stations (holes) while mulch will help in moisture conservation.
