The effects of Pfumvudza on food security : a case of Mazowe District Ward 9

Author

NGUNGUZALA ROFINA

Title

The effects of Pfumvudza on food security : a case of Mazowe District Ward 9

Abstract

A conservation farming method known as pfumvudza is one of the methods implemented by the Zimbabwean government to ensure food security at household level under these climate changing days. Pfumvudza is a concept of conservation agriculture (CA) that is designed to meet food security for an average household of six members over one year. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of pfumvudza on food security. The objectives of the research were to evaluate the level of pfumvudza, analyses the factors that had led to the adoption of pfumvudza, assess the impact of pfumvudza in food security and explore the challenges being faced by farmers practicing pfumvudza. The study was conducted in Mazowe district, ward 9. The population comprised of 2156 pfumvudza farmers and the sample selected using RASOFT software was 154 farmers. Purposive sampling was used when choosing sample farmers. Formal interview and questionnaire were used to collect data.
The results showed that the level of pfumvudza adoption were very high above 80% of the farmers in the ward were already into the concept. A large percentage of land was under maize with the off take of legumes being very slow. It was highlighted that farmers were into pfumvudza because of its high returns per unit area, free provision of inputs, successive droughts, and lack of draught power and shortage of income. Yield from pfumvudza was very high compared to conventional farming. Farmers who had all principles followed have enough maize grain to sustain them for the whole year. Challenges faced by farmers of pfumvudza were late delivery of inputs, failure to dig hard land, closure of holes by animals and lack of mulching materials. It was concluded that pfumvudza farming can improve food security if practiced well. The researcher recommends farmer to cut mulch soon after harvesting and store them, dug the planting holes early and keep watch of stray animals.

Date

June2022

Publisher

BUSE

Keywords

Pfumvudza

Food Security

Mazoe

Supervisor

Dr E. Zivenge