The Sunday Mail
Theseus Shambare
GOVERNMENT has partnered the private sector to mobilise equipment to mechanise the Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme in view of projections of normal to below-normal rains in the 2023-24 summer cropping season.
The climate-proofed Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme requires farmers to efficiently use resources on a small piece of land to optimise yields with minimal soil disturbance.
Farmers have traditionally used the hand hoe for this type of conservation farming, which is labour intensive, but Government has now adopted engine-driven equipment designed to be effective and time-saving.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail, chief director of the directorate responsible for agricultural engineering, mechanisation, post-harvest agro-processing and soil conservation in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Engineer Edwin Zimunga, said mechanisation was the bedrock of agriculture.
“As we seek to climate-proof our agriculture, we realise that if we cannot commercialise our Pfumvudza/Intwasa concept, we will fail to make agriculture the anchor of our economic growth.
“Mechanisation is the key driver of higher production and productivity in dry agro-activities. We are not looking only at achieving food security, but also on exporting and this can only be achieved if we fully mechanise,” Eng Zimunga said.
Conservation agriculture, he said, was not limited to smallholder farmers as climate change affected all farmers.
“We have adopted the Agricultural Mechanisation Alliance, under which we have crowded in the private sector in the provision of mechanisation equipment.
“In terms of commercial Pfumvudza/Intwasa, we are talking of zero tillage through use of direct seeding equipment, rippers and chisel ploughs, all attached to tractors. This equipment only disturbs where seed is planted, leaving the rest of the soil untouched.
“By so doing, we prevent overuse of soil and erosion. This is the way to mitigate and adapt to the El Niño weather phenomenon by avoiding intensive soil disturbance,” he said.
Partners under the alliance include Agricultural Dealers and Manufacturers Association, Engineering Iron and Steel Association of Zimbabwe, Food Crop Contractors and farmers’ unions.
“We, therefore, urge commercial farmers who might not have such tractor attachments to approach our mechanisation department or the AFC Leasing Company to have access to such services.
“Pfumvudza/Intwasa tractors and attachments have been deployed to various centres dotted countrywide,” he said.
Meanwhile, Eng Zimunga encouraged farmers to work with extension officers in programmes meant to mitigate the impact of climate change.
“In the same vein, farmers must work hand in glove with our Agricultural Advisory and Rural Development Services (AARDS) extension officers in their farming areas.
“With their assistance, farmers need to construct contours, storm drains, drainages and terraces to prevent further soil erosion in and around farming areas,” added Eng Zimunga.
Farmers in communal areas face tillage challenges due to shortages of draught animal power, mostly due to the January disease.
Two-wheeled tractors are therefore considered ideal in their operations.
Smallholder farmers access this equipment through loan facilities administered by banks to service providers.
The starter packs consist of a two-wheeled tractor (16hp), a double-row planter, a multi-crop sheller and a trailer (1,5 tonne).
Mechanising the agriculture sector is crucial to enable it to perform effectively and set the economy on a positive growth and recovery path.
As Government pushes for food security at both household and national level, agriculture is envisaged to increase its contribution to the country’s gross domestic product to 33 percent, up from the current 20 percent.
Under Pfumvudza/Intwasa, Government is targeting 3,5 million smallholder farmers, with at least three million ha expected to be put under crops to ensure Zimbabwe is food- and oil-secure at the household level.
According to the latest AARDS directorate report, the country is expecting 3 242 658 tonnes of grains (maize, sorghum and pearl millet) and 540 000 tonnes from oil-producing crops (sunflower, soya bean and cotton).
