adminNgoni Dapira
HORTICULTURAL farming is quite widespread in most parts of Manicaland due to the arable land and perennial rivers that spur irrigation farming throughout the year.
Although this is so, for most subsistence horticulture farmers in the province the concept of turning farming into viable business has often been lacking, with most farmers over and over again realising little from their yields.
However, last week Friday, 64 horticulture farmers from Mwoyoweshumba and Chidzinzwa villages in Mutasa District graduated from the Netherlands development organisation, SNV initiated farming as business training. The programme is a capacity building course meant to enlighten subsistence farmers on value addition techniques and certified ways to boost market sales of their harvest.
Several farmers who ranged from the age of 30 years to mid-60s who took part in the six-month long course from November last year thanked SNV for the knowledge they learnt from the course. One of the graduands and chairman of Chidzinzwa Irrigation Scheme, Mr John Manguruwe, encouraged fellow farmers to take the course seriously and make use of the skills imparted to them.
“We were taught that farming is a business. Business does not only mean owning a shop. “We should make money from our harvest which is why we are being encouraged to get into groups and work together to get value for money as farmers,” said Mr Manguruwe. He said at present most farmers were selling their produce for a dime dictated by unscrupulous buyers who offer lower prices, while racking huge profits when they later sell the produce. Zimbabwe Farmers Union officer, Ms Clara Chapfura, urged farmers to enter into commodity groups and register with them to access discount services on inputs and other schemes. “Be registered members as commodity groups for only $2 a year. We are the voice of farmers. As members, you will stand to benefit a lot through the various schemes and inputs programmes that come through the association for you farmers,” she said. Ms Chapfura also urged horticulture farmers to venture into organised agriculture which helps them grow into large entities. “Farmers should plan their production so that they produce for a ready market instead of searching for buyers when the crops have matured or have been harvested.
Online Reporter