Chipinge Correspondents
GOVERNMENT has so far disbursed 10 motorcycles in Chipinge to facilitate easy movement of Agritex workers in the district as they monitor the implementation of the Pfumvudza programme.
The 10 motorcycles are part of the 90 which were allocated to Chipinge District for extension workers.
Chipinge Agritex officer, Mr Tapiwanashe Chagwesha confirmed the development and said the remaining 80 motorcycles will be handed over to Agritex workers any time during the course of this year.
“Ten of the 90 Agritex officers in Chipinge have received motorcycles from Government in a move aimed at improving their working conditions.
“The gesture is a timely boost as we are tasked with monitoring and implementation of the Pfumvudza programme being rolled out across the country. We are so excited that Government is walking the talk on making life easy for us.
“Extension officers were walking very long distances to attend to farmers. Now that we have the motorcyles, it is much easier for us to conduct those field visits,” said Mr Chagwesha.
He added that Government has pledged to facilitate training and licencing of unlicensed extension workers.
Pfumvudza is a concept that is aimed at climate proofing agriculture by adopting conservation farming techniques and involves the utilisation of small pieces of land and applying the correct agronomic practices for higher returns.
The concept, which will be applied to maize, traditional grains, and soyabeans, will also commercialise smallholder agriculture.