STAFF WRITER
MATABELELAND NORTH Provincial Affairs minister Richard Moyo has said he was confident that his province will this year set a bumper harvest record owing to the success of the government’s conservative farming method Intwasa/Pfumvudza.
This comes at a time good rains continue to hit the province and other parts of the country, raising hope for a country that had experienced successive droughts in the past few years.
The government last year adopted the Presidential Intwasa/Pfumvudza climate-proof programme to address the problem of low productivity, which continued to negatively affect food security in Zimbabwe particularly in areas that receive below average rains and semi-arid regions.
In October last year at least 50 000 households in the province were trained on conservation farming methods better known as gatshompo in the country’s southern region. Farmers later received inputs as part of the programme to alleviate poverty in communities.
Moyo said he was happy that positive yields have already started to be recorded in his province.
“I am glad to say this programme that was initiated by our President has been fruitful so far. Already we have some farmers who have already started reaping their crops. The outlook is still positive despite the fact that the maize that was planted is at different stages of growth and with these rains what is needed now is ammonium nitrate to boost productivity, which I am confident will be distributed to farmers this month,” Moyo said.
He added: “I however should confirm that from the survey that I have done so far the programme has been a success to such an extent that I can confidently say our people won’t starve this year as there will be a bumper harvest.”
The minister said he remained hopeful that their ambitious target of producing 250 000 metric tonnes of grain as a province was achievable.
“The concept is definitely set to boost household food security and nutrition and also economic growth for the largely rural province.”
Matabeleland North has for years been affected by recurrent droughts due to low rainfall patterns experienced in the region. This has however led to a cycle of hunger and poverty in the region.
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