Story by Gay Matambo
COMMUNAL farmers in Chiredzi District are intensifying preparations for the 2025/26 summer cropping season, as government distribution of agricultural inputs continues under the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme.
This year, the programme is expected to yield substantial harvests as farmers collaborate to prepare their plots and plant climate-adapted crops.
One of the participating farmers, Ms Tendai Masviba from Fair Range, highlighted the benefits of working collectively.
“We partnered to prepare our plots, and so far, each one of us has four plots which we are going to put traditional grains. We will also prepare one plot for maize, but we are prioritising traditional grains. Last year we had a very good harvest, thanks to the Pfumvudza programme. We have also managed to purchase inputs so that we can plant early. We have also mulched our plots, as you can see, and we are fully prepared for the season.”
The Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme has also enabled farmers in Chiredzi to maximise yields, given that their area experiences low and unpredictable rainfall.
“Through the Pfumvudza programme, our lives have changed for the better. We used to grow maize, but the government introduced this programme where we are given inputs according to the climatic conditions of the area, and we have been doing well with traditional grains ever since,” said a farmer.
With the weather forecast having predicted normal to above normal rainfall, there is a sense of readiness among communal farmers in Chiredzi, as close to 40 000 farmers have already prepared at least three Pfumvudza plots each.
“Last year alone, we had below 40 000 farmers who had registered for the Pfumvudza programme. This year we have registered over 52 000 farmers who are now practising Pfumvudza, and farmers have indicated that this programme is working very well for them and we also registered an improvement in food sufficiency among the households.
“Previously, we used to have a lot of households not managing to get their cereal requirements throughout the year, but currently, we are having over 90 percent of our farmers producing their own cereal requirements at the household level,” said Chiredzi District Agritex Officer, Mr Tongai Bodi
With the Lowveld popular for the production of traditional grains, the government is targeting more than 500 thousand hectares of sorghum and 280 000 hectares of traditional grains this summer cropping season.
