Faith Ndou
GUTU-The Gutu District Drought Relief Committee has commenced the Pfumvudza inputs distribution programme, with the first five out of 41 wards expected to receive their packages tomorrow.
During a planning meeting held today, Grain Marketing Board (GMB) manager Onwards Zvataiona reported that the district has so far received 50 tonnes of maize seed, 10 tonnes of white sorghum seed, 60 tonnes of Compound D and 60 tonnes of Ammonium Nitrate.
The Committee resolved to begin immediate distribution of available inputs as rains have already started in most parts of the district.
Although not all areas have received meaningful rainfall particularly in regions four and five in Gutu east farmers in region three covering the western and central parts of the district have begun receiving significant rains.
Traditional leaders were the first recipients last week with 11 Chiefs receiving bags of Compound D and 25 kilograms of maize seed each while 21 Headmen received four bags of Compound D and 20 kilograms of maize seed.
However, 1,110 village heads are yet to receive their allocations. Last year, village heads received inputs alongside Chiefs and Headmen for the first time, a move they welcomed as a recognition of their role in local governance.
The Committee emphasized the importance of early distribution to ensure farmers plant on time and maximize yields.
Professional conduct by all involved in the process including Councillors, community leaders and escorting police officers, was underscored, following past reports of theft and mismanagement of agricultural inputs which Presiden Mnangagwa has strongly condemned.
Meanwhile, 50% of the wards have submitted their farmer registers to the GMB with delays attributed to the new requirement for Agricultural Administration Advisory Officers to capture GPS coordinates of each farmer’s plot.
Farmers interviewed expressed appreciation for the Government’s continued support through the Pfumvudza Programme, noting that the initiative has boosted food security and reduced dependence on food aid.
Many said they now produce enough for both household consumption and surplus sales thanks to the conservation agriculture model promoted by the Agricultural Advisory and Rural Development Services (ARDAS).
The district targets 63,000 households and 78,748 beneficiaries under this year’s Pfumvudza programme. Each farmer is expected to prepare five plots to ensure both family consumption and marketable surplus.
According to ARDAS, as of this week, Gutu farmers have prepared a total of 160,961 Pfumvudza plots covering 10,044 hectares. This includes 45,463 maize plots (3,803 hectares), 110,014 sorghum and pearl millet plots (6,865 hectares), 2,965 groundnut and soybean plots (173 hectares), 2,568 cowpeas and sugar beans plots (160 hectares), and 151 sunflower plots.
