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Blessings Chidakwa Municipal Reporter

Urban and peri-urban agriculture will continue contributing immensely to food security in the country as it contributed around one percent to the total production of cereals in the country during the 2020/2021 season.

Launching the presidential inputs in Hopley this week, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Oliver Chidawu said the programme was meant to support a crucial farming concept for attaining food self-sufficiency.

“The Agricultural Recovery Plan which was put in place by the Government with various agricultural practices is meant to guarantee household food self-sufficiency.

“Climate change and variability has been affecting food security globally and Harare has not been spared. Pfumvudza is a concept that is aimed at climate proofing agriculture through adoption of conservation farming principles,” he said.

Minister Chidawu said the Pfumvudza concept utilises small pieces of land measuring 39m by 16m and if proper agronomic practices are applied, farmers will get high returns.

“During the 2020/2021 season, some farmers in Harare Metropolitan Province managed to harvest 52 buckets of maize grain from one plot, enough to feed a family of five throughout the year. From the second plot, some households managed to deliver more than one tonne of grain to GMB thereby strengthening our grain reserve,” he said.

Minister Chidawu said the Agricultural Recovery Plan which was put in place by the Government with various agricultural practices is meant to guarantee household food self-sufficiency.

“I am encouraging every farming household to be trained and prepare your plots for planting now. As you have already heard from the Metereological Services Department, this year we are expecting normal to above normal rains. This is the time to get ready for planting.

I am informed that the Grain Marketing Board has started to receive inputs for this programme. As a nation, and indeed as Harare Metropolitan Province, we thank wholeheartedly His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa for the timely provision of inputs,” he said.

Minister Chidawu urged distribution committees to distribute with speed all the inputs received.