Godwin Gumbo

Mangwe, Mat South – Time and time again, farmers have tilled their land, labouring away the scorching summer sun, the goal being a flourishing green mealie field and cattle fat enough for ploughing, sale or slaughtering.

Alas, time and time again, April arrives, and there’s barely enough yield to see the farmer’s family through winter. Climate change has barted the already arid lands, and bounty rains are a distant memory.

Enter the Pfumbvudza/Intwasa driven programme, a retake of the Gatjopo farming method previously despised for its labourous nature. The Pfumbvudza Intwasa Farming method has re-imagined minimal land tillage with the aim of conserving soil fertility and moisture within the soil.

Mangwe District, Matebeleland South, sited deep within the Agroecological Region lV stands out as an ideal area to relive bumper harvests using the Pfumbvudza Intwasa Farming methods.

On Thursday, 24 October 2024, an ecstatic farmer in Isikhulu Village Ward 12 hosted the District Launch of Pfumbvudza/Intwasa in Mangwe at her homestead. The main attraction was the exceptionally prepared plot.

During the launch, a short demonstration of the recommended methods to prepare the plots was highlighted, a true display of the ongoing stellar work of farmers and ARDAS (Agritex) Extension Officers.

The advice to all farmers is to exclusively plant small grains like sunflower, millet, and sorghum.

Giving the keynote address, the District Development Coordinator for Mangwe, Ms. R. Makhurane, applauded the farmers and stakeholders for successfully implementing Pfumbvudza/Intwasa and took the opportunity to reiterate the importance of small grains. She said, “Traditional grains produce more yields and even health benefits; thus, let’s minimise maize cultivation and follow instructions from the extension officers religiously.”

It was evident that the government initiative is well supported by the leadership in communities like Parliamentarians and Chiefs.

Speaking on the same occasion, Member of Parliament for Mangwe Constituency Hon. Vincent Sihlabo said, “Government has been on a nationwide effort to engage farmers in Pfumbvunza/Intwasa programme realizing the devastated effects of climate change on agriculture, although some have been lagging behind in adopting the Programme.”

The Honourable added that if Pfumbvudza Intwasa was to be fully adopted hunger will be suppressed.

With the much anticipated seasonal forecast of normal to above-normal rainfall during the 2024/25 season, farmers pin their hopes for a bumper harvest on Pfumbvudza/Intwasa climate smart farming.