George Maponga in Masvingo
The Pfumvudza farming programme has been hailed as a master-stroke that will help Zimbabwe restore its breadbasket status while making the country a net exporter of food.

Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira yesterday rallied Zimbabweans to embrace the Pfumvudza concept as it was climate proofed and guarantees bumper harvest for farmers.

He was speaking at his Cresta Ibeka Farm about 10km west of Masvingo during the provincial launch of the programme, which was witnessed by hundreds of people including top Government officials and farmers from across the province.

Minister Chadzamira demonstrated to guests the planting process.

He said Zimbabwe was poised for a bumper harvest this year because of the programme.

He praised President Mnangagwa for coming up with the Pfumvudza programme after recurrent droughts that affected the country.

“Let us all follow the advice that we get from our extension officers when it comes to implementing the Pfumvudza programme. If we adhere to all the advice we get from extension officers I have no doubt that our country is poised for a bumper harvest,” said Minister Chadzamira.

“We (Chadzamira family) decided to lead by example here by committing some plots to the Pfumvudza programme and I have no doubt that if what we are doing here is replicated across the province and the whole nation, we will be assured of achieving a bumper harvest this year and beyond.”

Minister Chadzamira said the Government had played its part by providing inputs for farmers countrywide to make the Pfumvudza programme a success.

Pfumvudza would help Zimbabwe cut its food import bill.

“I have no doubt that our country will achieve food self-sufficiency leaving surplus for export that will earn the country hard currency and create more jobs. We want to thank President Mnangagwa for this initiative and Pfumvudza is the way to go,” he said.

President Mnangagwa recently launched the Pfumvudza programme at Mbungo estates owned by ZCC Mutendi Church ,paving way for the distribution of inputs to farmers across the province.

At the launch President Mnangagwa underscored the need for Masvingo farmers to take advantage of abundant water bodies across the province to grow food under irrigation to help stem the growing tide of hunger and stop exportation of jobs through expending scarce foreign currency to import food.