NEW:  Close to 12 million plots put under conservation agriculture

Online Reporter

CLOSE to 12 million plots have been put under the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme during the current 2023-24 summer cropping season, up from 5,5 million in the previous season.

Posting on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday morning, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri urged farmers to focus on good agronomic practices to maximise output.

“To the farmers nationwide, please be advised that the planting window for major crops like maize has closed.

“Let us adhere to this guidance to avoid potential losses. Sunflower and sugar beans can still be planted,” said Prof Jiri.

“It is high time farmers shift focus to good agronomic practices.”

He applauded farmers for successful progress.

“As of January 22, the country had successfully planted a total of 11 932 505 Pfumvudza/Intwasa plots, with maize, sorghum, groundnuts, cowpeas and sunflower equivalent to 744 588 hectares,” he said.

For the 2023-24 summer cropping season, close to four million smallholder farmers received free inputs, up from three million in the 2022-2023 season.

Seed distribution has been done based on specific agro-ecological regions.

Farmers in high-potential natural regions were expected to plant three maize plots and two plots of either sunflower, sorghum, pearl millet, groundnuts, African peas or sugar beans, while those in drier regions were encouraged to go for exclusive traditional grains to counter effects of climate change.