Mazowe Farmers Eye Bumper Harvest Under Productivity Booster Kits Programme

Mazowe farmers benefiting from the Government’s Productivity Booster Kits Programme are optimistic about a bumper harvest, citing early planting and improved irrigation infrastructure (image source)

MAZOWE — Beneficiaries of the Government’s Productivity Booster Kits Programme in Mazowe District say they are confident of a bumper harvest this season, citing improved access to irrigation infrastructure as a key driver of strong crop performance.

More than 90 families in Glendale, Mazowe, have so far benefited from the Second Republic initiative, which is aimed at boosting agricultural productivity and strengthening national food security. Farmers said the early distribution of the kits in August 2025 allowed them to expand their hectarage and plant crops well ahead of the onset of the rainy season.

A recent visit to beneficiary plots showed healthy and well-maintained crops, highlighting the impact of irrigation-based agriculture on local farming systems. Farmers noted that reliable water supply has enabled them to diversify production and continue farming activities regardless of erratic rainfall patterns.

Agriculture Business and Advisory Officer Innocent Guveya said the programme has resulted in a significant increase in land under cultivation, with improved yield prospects across most farms. “We have noted a marked improvement in the area planted compared to previous seasons, and we expect yields per hectare to rise. Some farmers are already earning income through the sale of green mealies,” he said.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has previously urged farmers to maximise land and water use to ensure national food security. At the launch of the programme, he said the initiative was designed to be inclusive, particularly targeting A1 farmers who had not previously benefited from irrigation schemes. “Ten thousand A1 farmers will benefit under the first phase of this programme,” the President said.

Under the scheme, each beneficiary receives a US$6,000 loan to acquire irrigation equipment covering between one and three hectares. Government plans to invest US$1.98 billion over the next 10 years to support the programme, with financial institutions expected to provide additional working capital. Smallholder tobacco farmers are also set to benefit through the localisation of irrigation equipment procurement.

Phase One targets at least 10,000 farmers nationwide, a move authorities say will consolidate Zimbabwe’s food security and improve resilience to climate variability. Farmers in Mazowe say early planting has been decisive. “We managed to produce this kind of crop because we planted well before the rainy season. We thank our government for prioritising this area,” one beneficiary said.

Another farmer expressed optimism about the season’s outcome, saying: “We hope this initiative will spread to other provinces. We are expecting maize yields of between six and seven tonnes per hectare this season.”