ARDA seeds supporting Pfumvudza/ Intwasa
THE Government adopted the Pfumvudza concept during the 2021/2021 agricultural season.
The main crops were mainly maize and some traditional crops. The concept has been widely praised by the majority of Zimbabweans.
Following the success of the Pfumvudza programme on maize and other small grains, the Government announced that Presidential Cotton Input Scheme will be done under this concept.
The original Pfumvudza objective was that a family should feed itself.
If farming is done at higher standards, it is possible to feed a family from a small piece of land. T
he concept has been adopted to address the problems of low productivity, low production and low profitability by the farming community.
The adoption of the Pfumvudza which is based on Conservation Agriculture (CA) will help to climate proof agricultural production.
The Government’s Agriculture Recovery Plan has also been anchored on the Pfumvudza concept, among other initiatives, thereby addressing household food security and commercialisation of smallholder farming in the country.
During the 2020/ 2021 agricultural season, Arda Seeds supplied about 1 300
tonnes of hybrid maize, 120 tonnes sorghum, 100 tons soyabeans and 80 tonnes cowpeas seed to the Presidential Input Scheme, mostly under the Pfumvudza initiative, Mwashaireni Amon said.
This is expected to be doubled during the 2021/2022 season. As we speak, 800 tonnes of hybrid maize seed (ZS265 and ZS263) has been delivered to various GMB Depots.
Although the hybrid maize seed varieties are Drought Tolerant (DT), if grown under the Pfumvudza, yields will be much higher.
As Arda Seeds, we also promote the production of traditional crops like sorghum, millets, cowpeas, groundnuts, etc.
These crops are very drought resilient, and very nutritious. Most seed companies are already delivering seed for the 2021/2022 Presidential Input Scheme.
According to Mwashaireni, seed sales in some wholesalers and retail shops, is already going on well. Farmers are already planning for the coming season, thanks to the timely announcement of another good rainy season.
Arda Seeds (Private) Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority, a Parastatal under the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development.
The parastatal has undergone rebranding and massive transformation to establish itself as a vehicle for national food, feed, fibre and biofuels security anchored by two pillars namely rural development and industrialisation and agriculture and agro industry development.
Its subsidiary, Arda Seeds ( Private) Limited, is tasked with producing and marketing seed of the various seed crops including the traditional seeds.
With climate change on us, promotion of small grains should not be underrated by all crop production and research stakeholders.
The agriculture sector which is seen growing by 34 percent in 2021, it is expected to register further growth during the coming season due to the anticipated normal to above normal rainfall in most areas, and an expanded Pfumvudza programme.
Increased and improved land under irrigation will also be key in enhancing crop productivity in the country.
The Government under the National Development Strategy (NDS1) and Vision 2030 is aiming to end hunger and poverty for good, within the shortest period of time. Arda Seeds will play its role in supporting government programmes, increasing seed supply of the various seed crops.
Arda Seeds can also be a vehicle to stabilise seed prices in the country.