Zimbabwe: Extension services for 500 000 urban farmers
National food self-sufficiency is crucial to the Government’s economic development tool – the National Development Strategy 1, which identifies food security and nutrition as key drivers of economic revival.
By Sharon Shayanewako
The Herald
Sept 23, 2022
Excerpt:
Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme is set to benefit 3, 5 million farmers in communal, A1, small-scale commercial farming, old resettlement and peri-urban farmers in the production of cereal, oilseeds and legumes.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development chief director responsible for Agriculture Advisory Services Professor Obert Jiri said the delivery of extension service to urban farmers was essential.
“Extension services will also be delivered to urban farmers to make sure that they adhere to the principles of Pfumvudza conservation agriculture. We want to ensure food self-sufficiency at all costs, therefore training of farmers is indeed vital,” observed Prof Jiri.
Zimbabwe Integrated Commercial Farmers Union (ZICFU) president Mrs Mayiwepi Jiti said the delivery of extension services to urban farmers would increase their capacity of production.
“The delivery of extension services will result in urban areas producing substantial tonnage assisting the urban population on food security immensely since they practise the Pfumvudza/Intwasa conservation agriculture, which has the potential of enhancing the yield,” Mrs Jiti said.
