MILLICENT HUNGWE
ZVISHAVANE – For adhering to the call by government to adopt climate compliant farming technics, Claudius Chidhume of Ward 5 in in Mapirimira Village has won prizes for successfully growing crops that are suitable for his area as recommended under the Agro Ecological Matching programme.
Chidhume, who farms crops such as millet, sorghum and groundnuts, received 100kgs of fertilizer and 20kgs of sorghum during a field day that he hosted at his homestead. Local Councilor Norman Sibanda donated a further100kgs of fertilizer to him.
The Permanent Secretary for Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Professor Obert Jiri who presided over the prize giving ceremony held under the theme, ‘Food security everywhere Everyday’, said that the government introduced the pfumvudza programme to counter climatic changes that were negatively affecting yields.
“While the Pfumvudza approach is a painful technique, it has good results and we have witnessed it here at Mr and Mrs Chidhume’s homestead.
“The shield against climatic change is Pfumvudza,” said Jiri.
Councilor Sibanda appreciated Chidhume’s hard work by donating a further 100kgs of fertilser to him. The Councilor said Chidhume was a farmer who follows what the government encourages and in the process achieves good harvests.
Chidhume pleaded with the government to assist him with a reliable source of water such as borehole saying it will be easy to irrigate his crops and become a better farmer.
Speaking at the same event, a local farmer, Mirirai Baka, said that farming was an important source of living.
“I use my own hands, sell produce daily. I don’t wait for a monthly salary. I have managed to send my children to boarding schools through farming,” she said.
The local Extension Officer, Tapiwa Kwami, was praised for working together with Chidhume.
Jiri also appreciated the Mid-Week Watch for the great job in keeping community informed of weather patterns which are posted in all its 25 groups across the region daily and spreading information on good farming technics.
