The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda – Extra Reporter
FOOD security and nutrition is a key aspect of the country’s economic blueprint, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation.
With that, small-scale farming could become the cornerstone of the country’s agricultural sector.
On August 22, 26-year-old Ms Nyasha Chiwazhika from Guruve scooped the Small-Scale Farmer of the Year award at a function officiated by President Mugabe at the Harare Agricultural Show.
Chiwazhika’s exploits on her seven-hectare plot is one of numerous testimonies of how small-scale farming can become a vital cog in Zimbabwe’s agrarian revolution.
She produced 17 tonnes of maize and raked in US$10 000 from her tobacco crop this past marketing season, earning herself a powerful 75-horsepower tractor worth US$25 000 from local company Southern Region Trading Company for her Harare Agricultural Show award.
The Sunday Mail Extra caught up with Chiwazhika, who hails from Gangarahwe Village, at the hand-over ceremony where the “master farmer” had only good things to say about Zimbabwe land reform programme.
“Small-scale farmers have the potential to be a vital cog in the total economy of the nation. It is good that we have a Government that knows the importance of land and my wish now is to be allocated a bigger piece of land.
“I also thank Southern Trading Company for their gesture. They have not only equipped me but they have also uplifted the entire village back home,” said Chiwazhika, who also got a US$2 300 disc harrow from the equipment firm.
Chiwazhika was born into a farming family, grew up in the village, got married in the village and is now making a decent living out of farming in that same village.
“This is proof that the agricultural sector can be a major employer. I have never been formally employed, neither have I bothered to look for employment in the city.
“My money is in the soil and I am sure with this new machinery I will be able to increase my yield, possibly employ one or two people in my fields. I might also expand into other produce but like I said before, it all depends with the farming area hence my plea to Government to allocate us more land,” said Chiwazhika who is also into market gardening, specialising in cabbage production.
Close relatives who accompanied the Small Scale Farmer of the Year to the handover ceremony all had inspirational stories on Chiwazhika.
“She (Chiwazhika) is a hard worker, always doing something in the fields. I think she is a perfect inspiration to others who are sceptical about the benefits of farming.
“The land is the economy; a lot of people back home are living large from the monetary benefits they are getting from farming. My daughter has done us proud and we are happy that she is proving to many what land does if fully utilised,” said Mbuya Pesia Gangarahwe (70), Chiwazhike’s mother-in-law.
There have been many calls to mechanise agriculture so that yields increase, efficiency improves and losses attributable to human error decline.
In that regard, Southern Region Trading Company pledged to continue sponsoring prizes for small-scale farmers.
“It is not going to be the last we are sponsoring this worthwhile competition. We believe agriculture is the backbone of Zimbabwe’s economy, but it needs to be mechanised. Look at what Nyasha has achieved on that small piece of land with an ox-drawn plough. With a tractor she can treble her efficiency and earnings.
“As Southern Region Trading we will closely monitor her growth and offer assistance where possible. The tractor will be fully insured and serviced at our own expense for the next 12 months.
“We have done this in line with Zim-Asset for sustaining and transforming agricultural growth in Zimbabwe. We believe that although there is one winner, there will be many beneficiaries within the community from this important asset,” said Mr Laurence Sher, Southern Region Trading company co-director.
