By Tapiwanashe Mulenga
The nation is poised for a bumper harvest this year after about 1.8 million farmers are expecting at least 28 million metric tonnes of grain following the implementation of pfumvudza/ intwasa scheme in various regions.
The scheme augments crop production at the household level and it was timely last season as it headed with good rain and farmers are drawing out at least 14.4 tonnes per hectare.
“Agriculture is identified as a key pillar in economic turnaround and if everyone adopts this scheme food security would be attained driving to vision 2030 of making the country a middle-income economy, ” said minister of state in the office of the president and cabinet in charge of monitoring the implementation of special Agricultural and related programmes Cde Davis Marapira.
This year witnessed a rise in land under maize crops in A1, S2, and peri-urban farms.
Addressing farmers at Lamont Farm in Masvingo, minister Marapira urged farmers to watch out for people who seek to exchange their grain for goods or money as it is illegal.
He said they should continue delivering their maize to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) depots and challenged GMB to pay farmers promptly as promised.
