The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
THE aggressive promotion of traditional grains under the Climate-Proofed Presidential Inputs Programme (Pfumvudza) has improved rural livelihoods and food security.
lt has also resuscitated the production of highly nutritious indigenous foods that were on the verge of extinction.
With climate change threatening rain-fed farming, massive promotion of traditional grains under Pfumvudza has offered a way to achieve food and financial security in communal areas.
The production scale witnessed this season will see dishes of indigenous foods once again making an appearance on dining tables in most homes, hotels and restaurants.
A millet and maize field day held last week at Mr Joseph Kuipa’s homestead in Zindi Village, Ward 20, Makoni, showcased the wonders that small-holder farmers can perform with adequate agricultural inputs.
Under Pfumvudza, the Kuipa family put two hectares under maize and spread the risk by planting a hectare of finger millet — a traditional grain famous for maintaining healthy blood sugar levels and smooth bowel movements.
Mr Kuipa has already harvested a tonne of maize from part of his first plot, and is expecting eight more tonnes of maize and two tonnes of millet, an enormous achievement by communal standards.
Millet, an integral part of the Zimbabwean ethos and diet, has long been neglected as urbanites considered them part of the ‘poor’ people’s diet and replaced it with maize and rice.
Mr Kuipa said ancient grains are full of vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants and dietary fibre.
“This explains why our grandparents were so fit and active and the burden of diseases was less during their days.
“If you give a man a fish, he will eat for a day; but if you teach a man how to fish, he will eat for a lifetime.
“I am grateful to President Mnangagwa for teaching us how to fish through Pfumvudza. This is a sure way of improving rural livelihoods and food security,” said Mr Kuipa.
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 to the attainment of Vision 2030.
Agritex officer for the area, Mrs Ebbah Nechiora, attributed the farmers’ success to timely distribution of inputs, early planting of the right crops and adhering to sound agronomic advice.
“Our farmers got inputs early, which enabled them to plant with the first rains, and the crops capitalised on heat units, buttressed by sound agronomic advice characterising the Pfumvudza programme,” she said.
Mr Sherpard Nyika urged communal farmers to embrace the drought tolerant traditional grains.
“In the face of climate change, communal farmers should focus on millets and other traditional grains with low water requirements during cultivation, tolerance to temperature increases and ability to be stored for decades,” said Mr Nyika.
He also called for efficient post-harvest handling storage to save food from being damaged by insects.
“Post-harvest losses are a major cause of concern. A substantial amount of grains is damaged after harvest due to lack of adequate storage, this is one area that farmers should guard against,” said Mr Nyika.
K2 agronomist, Mr Searchmore Chiweshe, encouraged farmers to buy certified seeds and adhere to agronomic advice for good yields.
