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Elton Manguwo

REGISTRATION of beneficiaries under the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme for the 2023/24 season is underway amid calls by the Government for farmers to diligently stick to the basic principles of the concept on the backdrop of projections of a lesser wet season compared to the just-ended one.

Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services principal director Professor Obert Jiri yesterday revealed that registration of farmers had since started and urged beneficiaries to pay attention to the Pfumvudza/Intwasa principles to ensure a successful season.

“Input packages for this years’ programme will only be given to farmers who dig holes properly and mulch their plots the correct way,” said Professor Jiri.

The Government is also going to ensure the distribution of inputs is done according to the different agro-ecological regions’ requirements in the wake of a projected drier season.

“The distribution of inputs in line with agro-ecological requirements will be pivotal in ensuring maximum production and productivity, therefore we will be very strict this time around,” said Professor Jiri.

The Government has highlighted how the Presidential Input Scheme Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme represented a new wave of entrepreneurship and commerce in the agriculture sector at small-scale level.

With harvesting of summer crops coming to end, farmers are urged to start collecting mulch and start building on their mulch banks for the next summer season.

“Mulching in Pfumvudza is important, as it enhances biodiversity and natural biological processes above and below the ground surface, which contribute to increased water, efficient nutrient use and improved crop production,” said Professor Jiri.

The Pfumvudza/Intwasa concept involves the use of little resources to produce more. It entails reducing the cost of production in a move that ensures that many farmers participate in the food production sub-sector at a time the Government is pushing to transform the agriculture sector to be business driven in line with its thrust of developing rural areas as envisioned under the rural development programme 8, 0.

The Government will support production on three to five plots to ensure there is surplus for repayment of inputs to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) while leaving some for commerce.

“Inputs for this year will be given to vulnerable groups of the society to guarantee that they are food secure and remain with surplus to sell at the same time,” said Professor Jiri.

The Government embraced this climate smart agriculture concept in 2020/2021 season and rolled it out under the Presidential Input Scheme Pfumvudza/Intwasa.

Climate smart production is a strategy the Government is using to build resilience to climate change in farmers around the country so that they can stand the extremes of climate change in line with the national drive to ensure food security for all citizens.