Story by Kenias Chivuzhe
ZUNDE RAMAMBO/isiphala senkosi being implemented under the Pfumvudza/ Intwasa programme is improving food security in rural areas, with the Nyamaropa community in Nyanga benefiting from the government-led initiative.
The initiative led by village head Samungure in Nyamaropa is one of the success stories of the government supported initiative to promote food security.
“We are happy that Pfumvudza has improved food security in our area. We are now able to feed and support the vulnerable,” a beneficiary said.
“We have been able to have a very good crop despite not irrigating this crop. In our village, we are now able to help the vulnerable using the proceeds. These include the disabled and orphans among others,” a farmer said.
“Our crop is good. Zunde rasabhuku helps to meet food demand in our village,” a villager said.
“We adopted the Zunde concept to improve food security. Some of the maize will be sold to GMB while the other component is kept to assist the vulnerable. This season we are harvesting seven tonnes but next year we are targeting 28 tonnes,” Traditional leader, Village head Weston Samungure said.
“We want to thank the government led by President Mnangagwa who is supporting the Zunde raMambo programme. This is a very good crop and if we continue this way, we will be food secure,” Traditional leader, Headman Sachiwo said.
Agronomists are pleased with the quality of crop under Zunde raMambo initiative in Nyamaropa and are convinced government struck the right code in supporting the Pfumvudza and Zunde raMambo programmes.
“This good crop is testimony that this area is now food secure. This crop was planted under dry land and we are urging farmers to adopt the pfumvudza programme to ensure food security. Pfumvudza programme is now a tried and tested agricultural concept,” Valley Seeds Commercial Director, Mr Tichaona Maponga said.
“This year God blessed us with good rains and this good crop including small grains have done well. We want to thank our President for supporting the Pfumvudza programme. As a province we are optimistic to exceed our target of 360 000 metric tonnes of grain,” Manicaland Provincial Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services Director, Mr Nhamo Mudada said.
Area legislator Honourable Chido Sanyatwe who attended a Zunde raMambo Field day in Nyamaropa says the agriculture success story is part of efforts to attain vision 2030.
“We are happy with this provincial field day. This success story reflects on the efforts by President Mnangagwa to achieve vision 2030. We have irrigation schemes but where there are no facilities, we need to take advantage of the pfumvudza programme. We urge more people to increase uptake of the pfumvudza programme. We are working with government to upgrade irrigation schemes and we want to upgrade Nyamaropa irrigation scheme to ensure more water is available for agricultural purposes. We are also urging people to plant traditional grains that are considered health foods,” she said.
This season the national Pfumvudza/ Intwasa programme and the Zunde RaMambo/Isiphala SeNkosi programme was launched in Buhera, with Manicaland province setting an ambitious target over 360 000 metric tonnes of grain.
