Zaka farmer receives tractor for national Pfumvud...

Zaka farmer receives tractor for national Pfumvudza prize

Zim Now Writer

A farmer from Zaka in Masvingo Province, Consen Mutasa, who was adjudged the best Pfumvudza Farmer at the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show held in Harare in September 2022, has received his prize of a tractor from the show organisers.

The Zimbabwe Agricultural Society handed over an MTZ 820 tractor at a field day held at Mutasa’s homestead at Masikati Village under Chief Ndanga in Zaka District last week.

The handover was done by the chief director for Agriculture, Rural Development and Advisory Services, Professor Obert Jiri.

Mutasa’s farm had the best infiltration pits for water harvesting, and his field had the best mulch.

“Mutasa’s success must inspire all farmers that Pfumvudza if well executed, comes with great benefits. It restores infertile soils and can make farmers grow big grains in arid conditions,” said Jiri.

Jiri discouraged farmers from thinking that the Pfumvudza Programme was just a way of getting agricultural inputs from the President’s scheme.

Asked for a comment, Mutasa said the pfumvudza concept if well executed, can restore arid lands and enable farmers to grow big grains even in arid regions where they usually fail.

The field day was attended by farmers from Zaka, Bikita, Chiredzi and agricultural companies.

Mutasa harvested water by digging trenches around his fields, which serve to hold water so that it is not lost as run-off and will enter the fields through seepage.