Raymond Jaravaza, ray.jaravaza@chronicle.co.zw
THE recent rains in Bulawayo have sparked hope among urban farmers, who have sprung into action, preparing land ahead of the 2025/26 summer cropping season.
Urban farming is widely practised in Bulawayo, with residents cultivating available plots near their homes, in bushy areas and in some cases under major infrastructure such as electricity pylons and along busy roads.
In suburbs like Emganwini, residents till land along the Bulawayo-Plumtree Road, while in Mahatshula, farmers have taken over open spaces along the Bulawayo-Harare Highway, using tractors to plant crops such as maize, sugar beans and groundnuts. These crops rely on rain-fed agriculture, with harvests heavily influenced by seasonal rainfall.
Government initiatives, through the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (Arda) in partnership with private sector contractors, aim to produce 500 000 tonnes of summer grains from 100 000 hectares, alongside 300 000 tonnes of winter crops from 60 000 hectares. The scheme provides financing support and technical guidance to farmers.
A Zimpapers news crew yesterday visited selected suburbs in the city and witnessed farmers actively preparing plots.
Mr Ronald Makono, an urban farmer in Mahatshula, emphasised the importance of early land preparation for rain-fed agriculture.
“The soils here are good, and depending on the field size, some of us can grow maize on up to a hectare or more.
“The recent rains have made it easier to prepare the land, but I will wait a bit longer before planting,” said Mr Makono.
“If Bulawayo receives good rains in November, I will start planting maize.”
Mr Makono said the 2024/25 season was challenging, yielding only 19 bags of maize from his plot, while a good season could produce over 30 bags.
“Early planting around mid-November allows crops to benefit from the peak rains in February,” he explained.
Tractor hiring costs vary depending on land size and farmers must cover fuel expenses. Mr Paul Sunday, an Emganwini resident, said a group of locals pooled resources to hire a tractor to till land along the Bulawayo-Plumtree Road, splitting the diesel and service charges among themselves.
“We are old and frail, so manual tilling is almost impossible. Hiring a tractor and sharing the cost makes it feasible,” he said.
Mrs Mavis Dzvatsva, another resident, expressed hope of benefiting from the Pfumbudza/Intwasa Presidential Inputs Scheme, which provides seeds, fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides to farmers nationwide.
In an interview, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Professor Obert Jiri said the Government was complementing the Presidential Inputs Scheme with several financing initiatives to support farmers.
“We have NEAPS (National Enhanced Agricultural Productivity Scheme), which is run through CBZ, AFC, NMB and other banks. That programme supports our larger producers with working capital,” he said.
“We also have the Food Crop Contractors Association (FCCA) — our private sector contractors who work directly with farmers to finance production. This model has proved very effective in recent seasons.”
According to the Meteorological Services Department (MSD), farmers can expect normal to above-normal rainfall in the south and normal to below-normal rainfall in the north this season, providing conditions conducive to successful summer cropping.
The scheme is being rolled out to over three million rural and urban households, with priority given to farmers who contributed at least 10kg of grain to the Grain Marketing Board last season. Agro-ecological zoning ensures that crop varieties are matched to regional climatic conditions, with maize promoted in wetter regions and drought-tolerant crops such as sorghum and millet in drier areas.
The distribution of maize seed, fertiliser, herbicides and pesticides under the climate-proofed Presidential Inputs Scheme is in full swing, with more than three million rural and urban households are set to benefit from the programme, which aims to boost food security and resilience in the wake of climate change.
The Government last month assured farmers that the country has adequate seed and fertiliser stocks with Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services chief director Mrs Medlinah Magwenzi stating that over 10 000 hectares have already been prepared and inputs had started arriving in most provinces.
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