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By Elvis Dumba
Banket – Various businesses have partnered with the government in the success stories in the agriculture sector with climate-proof agricultural practices – The Pfumvudza/Intwasa geared to improve household food security.
The Pfumvudza/Intwasa program has seen the country able to export maize for humanitarian purposes after tonnes of grain were donated to Malawi following a devastating cyclone there.
An agro-based manufacturing company, Valley Seeds, said they are ready for the 2023-24 agriculture season with increased support to the Pfumvudza/Intwasa program where the company has been partnering with the government in the provision of inputs under the Presidential Inputs Scheme where over one million households get free agriculture inputs.
Tich Maponga, Commercial Director for Valley Seeds, said his company heeded the call by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to invest in nation-building through investing in the agriculture sector.
“We are ready for the 2023-24 Pfumvudza program with our company providing agriculture seeds for the program. We are happy that there has been improved household food security through the program, which takes cognizant of climate change which has affected our traditional way of agriculture. Our company is already making preparations for distribution of agriculture seeds to distribution points which are Grain Marketing Board depots around the country so that farmers get these inputs before the onset of the agriculture season,” he told farmers at a maize field day hosted by Tobacco Research Board at their Banket Tobacco Research Farm.
Maponga said his company has provided support to the Department of Agriculture Extension through the provision of motorcycles for Extension Workers for improved efficiency in their agriculture extension work, which is the testimony of the private sector support to national developmental goals.
Speaking at the same event, Local Government and Public Works Deputy Minister, Marian Chombo, said President Emmerson Mnangagwa is on record that only Zimbabweans are responsible for building the country’s success and hailed the private sector support towards agriculture.
“The government is grateful to the companies which are complementing government efforts in ensuring successes in the agriculture sector, especially Pfumvudza/Intwasa program that has seen food security at household level improve,” she said
Chombo said climate change has affected the agriculture sector that now calls for a return to traditional agriculture methods, which were hinged on environmentally friendly practices.
“The Pfumvudza program initiated by His Excellency President Emerson Mnangagwa is not a new way of agriculture, but our forefathers used these methods, which were environmentally friendly and with climate change affecting our weather patterns, our small-scale farmers need support to ensure food security,” she said.
Chombo urged farmers to avoid side-marketing as this will create artificial food shortages in the formal sector.
“I urge farmers to deliver their produce to official markets such as Grain Marketing Board, which guarantees food security in the country, and when we get more, we are able to help those in need just like recently when we managed to help our counterparts in Malawi with humanitarian aid following the climate change induced Cyclone Freddy.
“It is the government’s plan for ensuring that farmers receive inputs in time for the season with winter wheat support already being rolled out. I urge bonafide wheat farmers to utilize this opportunity and ensure that the country continues to be wheat self-sufficient through delivering your produce to Grain Marketing Board,” she said
Chombo said some of the delays in payments of delivered grains were a result of some farmers supplying insufficient banking details whilst others deliver their grains when they do not have bank accounts.
Zvimba District Agriculture Extension Officer, Fortunate Marara, urged farmers to get professional agricultural advice from agricultural extension workers who are being capacitated to ensure farmers receive maximum agricultural advice.
“Farmers need to utilize extension workers so that they farm effectively as these workers are being capacitated for that reason. We appeal for those with irrigation facilities to come and join the Pfumvudza Winter Wheat program and encourage those already being supported to deliver their produce to Grain Marketing Board,” she added.