Govt pushes households to scale up Pfumvudza plots
LIVINGSTONE MARUFU
Government is intensifying efforts to expand the Pfumvudza/Intwasa conservation agriculture programme, encouraging households across the country to increase the number of plots they prepare ahead of the 2025/26 summer cropping season.
The push comes as the government seeks to boost productivity, improve climate resilience, and ensure food security at household and national levels.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Professor Obert Jiri, said preparations for Pfumvudza plots have gathered strong momentum across provinces.
“The Ministry is encouraging every household to prepare at least three plots, which could push the total to more than 15 million. This will not only boost food security but also help families cope better with the challenges of climate change,” said Professor Jiri.
Last season, Zimbabwe recorded 11.9m Pfumvudza plots, and with farmers already surpassing five million plots, officials are confident that the new 15-million target is within reach.
The Pfumvudza approach — a climate-smart farming technique — has become a cornerstone of the country’s agricultural recovery. On average, Pfumvudza plots yield 1.2 tonnes per hectare, compared to 0.8 tonnes from conventional tillage methods. Increasing the area under Pfumvudza could therefore deliver higher yields using less land and fewer inputs, a critical advantage amid erratic rainfall patterns.
Traditionally, Zimbabwe’s rainy season would begin between late October and early November. However, due to the growing impact of climate change, the rains are now arriving later — often in December — and withdrawing earlier. Professor Jiri said early land preparation through Pfumvudza ensures farmers are ready to plant the moment the rains arrive.
“The early rains we’ve received have helped speed up preparations,” he said, adding that the response from farmers so far has been “very encouraging.”
The Pfumvudza method conserves moisture, improves soil structure, and reduces erosion, making it particularly effective in drought-prone regions. The government adopted the system in 2020, training over one million smallholder farmers in its techniques. Each year, the State provides farmers with inputs such as maize, sorghum, groundnuts, and cowpea seed, along with fertiliser.
Beyond its immediate role in household sustenance, agriculture remains a key pillar of Zimbabwe’s economy — accounting for nearly a third of value addition in 2023, according to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat). Expanding the Pfumvudza programme is therefore not only a food security measure but also a broader economic strategy aimed at stabilising production and reducing import dependence.
Although Pfumvudza represents a modern, structured approach to conservation farming, it draws inspiration from traditional smallholder practices, particularly among farmers without access to draught power. Historically, such farmers relied on hoes to till the land, often without precise spacing, mulching, or the addition of organic matter. Pfumvudza formalises and enhances these techniques — introducing standardised hole spacing, mulching, and the use of compost or manure — to maximise yields from limited plots.
This year’s preparations coincide with the arrival of the first rains, rekindling optimism across rural communities. Farmers in many districts have already begun clearing fields, digging planting basins, and securing inputs in anticipation of a productive season.
Government officials say that sustaining the Pfumvudza momentum will be central to achieving Vision 2030 goals of a food-secure and upper-middle-income economy. With input distribution ongoing and training programmes being scaled up, the administration hopes to see a stronger agricultural performance in the coming season — one built on smallholder resilience and scientific efficiency.
“Every prepared plot represents a step towards national food self-sufficiency,” said Professor Jiri.
