The Sunday Mail
Tapiwa Kahiya
Some people have the axiomatic “green hand”, an ability to turn any place they touch into green. Such is the case with Mr Tichasiyana Wonder Mapondera and his wife.There was pomp and fanfare at plot number four of Miegunya Farm in Mazowe District near Nyabira a fortnight ago during a field day that was attended by hundreds of people.
Government officials and representatives from Panner-Seed Zimbabwe, Seed-Co, Sirda Maize (Sirdc), ZFC, Alco chemicals (TSA), Gwebi College, Arda, Charter Seeds, Chemplex, Veterinary Distributors and Agricura also graced the event.
Experts from various seeds companies grabbed the opportunity to advice farmers on this season’s threats to crops.
Mr Mapondera is a beneficiary of the Land Reform Programme and is doing exceedingly well on his piece of land.
The Land Reform Programme has benefitted many Zimbabweans. Mr Mapondera says the initiative enabled him to realise his dream of utilising his talent for the country’s benefit.
Mr Mapondera is using his 93,5 hectares for various agricultural activities that include livestock rearing, fishery, bee keeping as well as cash crop farming.
He also has a paw paw and banana plantation as well as thriving horticultural crops.
Maize is under 22 hectares, sugar-beans (eight hectares) while 20 hectares have been prepared for potatoes. The farmer owns 123 cattle and a generous number of pigs.
He has an excellent yield potential projected at 10-12 tonnes per hectare.
In his vegetable fields; he is growing cabbages, carrots, garden peas, green beans, cauliflower, tomatoes and brocolli.
The scenic greenery of lush crops is soothing.
His irrigation equipment allows him to yield more.
Lands and Rural Settlements Minister, Dr Douglas Mombeshora, who was the Guest of Honour, was represented by his Deputy Berita Chikwama.
In his opening speech as Guest of Honour, Dr Mombeshora encouraged farmers to work hard. He challenged beneficiaries of the land reform programme to productively make use of the land allocated to them.
The minister also took a swipe at those who think women do not have the right to land. especially those who dispossess land from widows following the death of their husbands, describing such behaviour as retrogressive and barbaric.
He urged women to be actively involved in farming.
Mr Mapondera stressed that self-sufficiency and discipline is key, adding that he funds his activities through his own resources.
Those in attendance said that Mr Mapondera’sa mentality is what is needed for Zimbabwe to return to its glory-days as the bread-basket of Africa.
But behind every successful man is a woman, Mrs Pamela Mapondera is no exception. The couple’s combination is bearing great fruits.
Mr Mapondera is the Board Chairman of Zimbabwe’s successful short-term insurance, Champions Insurance Company.
From 2008 to date, he has been the Executive Director of the Zimbabwe Farmers Development Trust.
