Story by Kenias Chivuzhe
MANICALAND Province is targeting to harvest over 360 000 metric tonnes of maize this season buoyed by the success of the Pfumvudza programme.
The uptake of the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme is expected to be key in ensuring food security with Tonderai Ngirande from village 13 in Mutare North among farmers with the best maize crop in his community.
Ngirande fully utilised his father’s five-hectare plot before securing additional land from other villagers to plant 11 hectares of Maize and one hectare of tomatoes among other ventures that include livestock rearing, poultry production and a huge rabbit project.
“We managed to utilise five hectares and have another six hectares to make them 11. We have a maize crop on the 11 hectares and we are eyeing a bumper harvest after being given inputs by government. We also planted tomatoes covering one hectare and we are harvesting them we are also doing animal husbandry and l have over 150 goats and some rabbits,” Ngirande said.
Agriculture experts also spoke on the importance of soil testing and the adopting of Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme in realising high crop yields.
“Farmers should collect good seeds, embark on land preparation in time and test their soil to do soil amendments. Farmers should also select drought resistant crops,” Agronomist, Kazembe Maocha said.
“I am excited by the productivity here. The maize we are seeing here was planted under Pfumvudza after being given inputs by the government. This success here is testimony that Vision 2030 is achievable,” Mutare Rural District ward 1 councilor, Absolom Matovo said.
The ministry of agriculture is convinced that the province will achieve more than 360 000 metric tonnes largely driven by the success of the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme and productivity by large scale farmers.
“Here we are witnessing a field where Pfumvudza principles were fully implemented. We have a very good crop here due to the climate proofing concept and what we are seeing here is an example of good farming practice. Looking at the whole province we have planted 274 000 hectares of maize and we are looking forward to harvesting more than 360 000 metric tonnes of grain,” Manicaland Director in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Mr Nhamo Mudada said.
Nationally the country is targeting to produce 2.7 million metric tonnes of maize this season.
