Story by Tafara Chikumira
A Gweru farmer is reaping the benefits of embracing the Pfumvudza/Intwasa farming model, as he anticipates a bumper harvest this summer cropping season after leaving his civil service job to pursue agriculture.
Sixty-year-old Mr Phillip Madzivanyika, who acquired a six-hectare plot in 2002 under the Land Reform Programme, has capitalised on agricultural reforms and support programmes initiated by the Second Republic to boost his production.
This season, he has placed five hectares under maize and is expecting an average yield of eight tonnes per hectare.
“I am just following my passion and the advice from the agriculture extension officers is coming in handy for me to realise the type of yield you see today. This summer season we practiced the Pfumvudza farming which has guaranteed a healthy crop.”
Some farming experts had a word of advice to farmers in the face of the Elnino-induced drought.
“We are in a season where we need to be mindful of how best we can manoeuvre in the face of adverse weather conditions. Climate-proof Pfumvudza farming has become the best option we have. We also need to concentrate on traditional crops which normally do well under difficult conditions,” ARDAS’ Gweru District Agriculture Extension Officer, Mr Edmore Mubaiwa
The climate-proof, Pfumvudza/Intwasa farming technique which was popularised by the Second Republic is proving to be popular among smallholder and communal farmers as it ensures maximum yields on small pieces of land in the face of the El Nino-induced drought.
