Story by Kenias Chivuzhe
The adoption of mechanisation initiatives by smallholder farmers in Chimanimani has increased agricultural productivity and improved communal farmers’ capacity to venture into value addition.
The new machinery has come in handy in the implementation of the Pfumvundza/Intwasa climate smart farming concept, while farmers have also ventured into animal feed, among other value addition initiatives.
A farmer who spoke to the ZBC News said, “I make use of this chopper grinder to process feeds and mealie meal as well baobab coffee. I am also hired by community members who need my services.”
Another said, “I use this multi crop thresher to process small grains,
maize, beans and wheat. We are now able to pay school fees for our children.”
“I have a basin digger which is used to make Pfumvudza holes. The machine can make 1 456 holes within 1 and half to 2 hours,” another farmer noted.
The Feed the Future Zimbabwe Mechanisation and Extension Programme is being implemented by International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) in partnership with the government of Zimbabwe.
CIMMYT Chief of Party and project manager for Mechanisation and Extension Activity, Habeenzu Mukwemba said, “The mechanisation programme covers 10 districts to make farmers more productive. Mechanisation promotes entrepreneurship. At the moment we have the extension with the first phase having budgeted about 2.8 million United States dollars and we have another phase that his being funded to the tune of 4 million dollars. The second phase starts in September 2027.”
Chimanimami Agriculture Extension Supervisor, Stephen Mutungwe noted, “Mechanisation is helping a lot through labour saving technologies which quickens the harvesting and processing of crops .Machinery has also improved Pfumvudza implementation and processing of animal feeds.”
“This programme has improved access to mechanisation for our small holder farmers with service providers being assisted to acquire machinery which are then accessed by farmers. The farmers are now able to expand their production,” explained Hlahla Magama, Acting Director Agriculture Engineering and Mechanisation.
USAID Mission Director Ms Janean Davis believes the service provider model is a sustainable way of empowering communities.
“In Chimanimani there was a big impact from Cyclone Idai and people are still recovering. We are working with communities to protect them from drought shocks. I am very proud of the work which we are doing with our partners and we are using service provider model for community members to benefit,” she said.
Several districts including Chimanimani, Mutare, Buhera, Chipinge, Bikita, Masvingo, Zaka, Chivi, Mwenezi and Chiredzi are benefiting from the mechanisation programme which will run until 2027 after the injection of an additional four million United States dollars.
