The Sunday News
Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
FARMERS in the Midlands province have started receiving further training on climate-proof Intwasa/ Pfumvudza programme which will see farmers in Gokwe district getting cotton inputs.
Agricultural Technical and Extension Services (Agritex) officers have been trained and are now passing on the training to villagers in Gokwe district who are going to have five plots including cotton under Intwasa this farming season. Riding on the success of the Intwasa programme in the production of maize and traditional grains last season, the Government has extended the programme to cotton in a move aimed at improving the production of the white gold across the district.
The Midlands province under its ambitious Midlands Provincial Development Strategy 1 is planning to incentivise 400 000 cotton farmers in Gokwe so that they increase cotton production and turn the district into new clothing and textile hub.
The end result is to see the growth of Gokwe district riding on increased cotton production and turn it into a new provincial capital.
Grain Marketing Board (GMB) depots have since received maize, small grains and cotton inputs which will be distributed to villagers who are going to partake in the Intwasa programme.
Pertaining to the cotton programme, Cabinet approved cotton Intwasa pack comprising 6kg seed, 80kg basal fertiliser, 40kg top dressing and the requisite herbicides and chemicals reducing the seed allocation from 20kg seed to match fertilisers provided.
This development has seen Gokwe district farmers being trained to increase from three to five plots this season.
In an interview yesterday, Gokwe South District Development Coordinator (DDC), Ms Netsai Mushauri said she was glad to note that they had started receiving farming inputs under the Intwasa programme.
“We have received farming inputs under Intwasa but we are still to distribute to the beneficiaries because they are being trained. Extension officers received their training on the programme and have taken the training to the villagers who are going to participate in the programme this year. So yes, the inputs are there and are on time,” she said.
Ms Mushauri said this year would be different and interesting as the Government had introduced Intwasa cotton.
“This means that the small holder farmers now have about four plots under the programme from three plots with the advent of cotton Intwasa. They will have a plot for cotton, a plot for cereal, small grains, commercial crops (sunflower or soya beans) and maize. We need the sunflower so that the villagers can make their own cooking oil.
Some can go with soya beans.”
Ms Mushauri said under the Midlands Development Strategy 1, there are plans to develop Gokwe North and South districts into cotton hubs and therefore the addition of cotton to Intwasa.
“The province has a development strategy of turning the two districts into cotton hubs of the country. They want to see the gross domestic product of the two districts increase and the emphasis on Intwasa and with the training they are receiving, there is going to be an increase in cotton production,” she said.
Gokwe North Assistant DDC Mr Stewart Gwatiringa said they were excited about the Government Intwasa programme. He said they were working on taking the inputs to the villagers.
“As Gokwe North District, we are also excited about the Intwasa programmes as we have seen the introduction of cotton under the programme. I don’t have statistics right now of farmers to benefit since training is going on after which we will start distribution. But all is well,” said Mr Gwatiringa.
Midlands Provincial Agronomist, Mr Innocent Dzuke, said under Intwasa maize, they have already distributed 444.88 tonnes of maize seed and 1239 tonnes of compound D.
“The distribution started. GMB deports have received the inputs and 444.88 tonnes of maize seed and 1 239 tonnes of compound D have been distributed. Other cotton and other small grains and commercial crops, the programme is still ongoing and we will have statistics soon,” he said.
Mr Charltone Murove, acting DDC for Chirumhanzu said they have about 26000 villagers who are benefiting from maize Intwasa this season.
“Distribution in Chirumhanzu has started and is ongoing,” he said.
DDC for Shurugwi Mr Romeo Shangwa and his counterpart in Mberengwa Mr Ndeya Nyede also confirmed that they have received farming inputs with strategies on the distribution underway.
Midlands Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and Devolution Larry Mavima said Gokwe North and South Districts accounted for about 52 percent of the cotton which was being grown in the country with over 400 000 farmers into white gold farming.
“So, you can see the potential it has, with 52 percent of cotton produced in the country coming from Gokwe, what is needed is to capacitate cotton farmers. We need to put our heads together so that it becomes the clothing and textile hub, enough to become the third largest city in the country after Harare and Bulawayo,” he said.
Minister Mavima said under the Provincial National Development Strategy, cotton farmers in the province will be assisted through contract farming. He said there was need to incentivise the cotton farmers so that many take up farming.
