Bulawayo urban farmers applaud govt

TENDAI BHEBE IN BULAWAYO

Farmers in Bulawayo have applauded the government for unveiling the Pfumvudza/Intwasa concept saying the intervention has brought success into their farming projects.

It is estimated that  a total of 20 000 urban farmers in Bulawayo  have already received agricultural inputs for the 2021/2022 farming season under the Intwasa/Pfumvudza programme.

“We are very excited about the programme Pfumvudza / Intwasa that the government initiated. We are really grateful that the government has helped us as farmers in Bulawayo,” Martha Maphosa, the Bulawayo Urban Farmers Association vice secretary.

She added: “We hope the Agritex department will work well with us as farmers in Bulawayo. If there’s anything to be distributed it should be fair.”

Maphosa revealed that last year, the Bulawayo farmers raised about 400kg of maize  and distributed some bags  of mealie meal to the old people’s home at Entembeni.

Intwasa is a concept aimed at climate proofing agriculture by adopting conservation farming techniques and involves use of small plots and applying the correct agronomic practices for higher returns.

Maphosa appealed to the Bulawayo City Council  and government for bigger land allocation to expand their agricultural activities.

“We are also appealing to the government for support in other agricultural activities of distributing goats. We are asking if the same can be done for our province. We want to make the agricultural sector here in Bulawayo a bigger and greater one. Probably to supply some supermarkets and different organisations with our products that we will make,” she said.

In a recent post cabinet briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the distribution for the Pfumvudza/Intwasa inputs was in full swing across the country.