Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
SEVENTY-SEVEN-YEAR-OLD Insiza farmer Mr Legion Ncube is among the 31 elderly farmers from the district who have been equipped after undergoing a two-year Government Master Farmer Training programme in Matabeleland South Province.
Mr Ncube, who was the eldest among 31 farmers from the Siwazi Irrigation Scheme, who recently graduated, said that despite his experience in farming, the training has been an eye-opener. The farmers graduated under the ordinary level stage. Their course covered theory and practicals in both crop and livestock farming.
They sat for examinations and Mr Ncube is one of the farmers who excelled. He said he desired to graduate under the advanced level stage, which requires further one-year training.
The Government’s Master Farmer Training programme seeks to improve production, productivity, and profitability for smallholder farmers and foster environmental sustainability.
“I have gained so much experience in farming over the past years and for the greatest part of my life, I have been a farmer. I thought that what I knew was adequate until I joined the master farmer training programme. Under this course, the knowledge I have acquired has changed my perspective on farming.
“All along, my farming practices have been mainly for the purposes of feeding my family and selling a little produce, but I now know that I have a valuable asset in the form of my fields and livestock. I learnt a lot about farming and how we should run our farming enterprises. What is key in a farming business enterprise is keeping records,” he said.
Mr Ncube said when starting production, one has to record every step of the process, starting with when land preparation was done, when crops were planted, cultivated and harvested and the quantities.
He said it is also crucial for a farmer to strive to expand their business. He said that under crop production, the hectarage and yield have to increase over the years, while livestock, the herd and income generated must increase.
Mr Ncube said they were also educated on animal health, such as dosing and vaccinating livestock to protect them against diseases, which is something he often overlooked.
“I also learnt that the selection of crops is crucial in farming. Crop rotation is also necessary as it helps to preserve the soil and eliminate pests. If you are focusing on farming as an enterprise, it’s also important to focus on cash crops, as they bring in cash fast.
“Every portion of land has to be utilised to bring in cash and that’s why it’s important to plant crops that will ensure huge returns,” he said.
Another elderly farmer who also graduated, Ms Mercy Nyoni (63), said she has learnt that farming, if taken seriously, can be a reliable source of income. Ms Nyoni said while farmers can produce for their own consumption and sell for an income, they also have to contribute to the nation’s granary, which is the Grain Marketing Board.
Mr Robert Ncube (69) said he learnt that farming operations have to be aligned with the prevailing climatic conditions.
“With the prevailing climatic conditions, we now know that we have to select crops which are suitable for our region and in our case, small grains do well. We also have to select short varieties.
“The stover that remains after harvesting is good for mulch. Even animal dung is a great source of manure. This information is crucial even to us as the elderly, as we will share it with our grandchildren,” he said.
Mr Ncube said even at his old age, he can still be hands-on in farming activities through playing a supervisory role while workers do the manual work.
The master farmer training is a comprehensive agricultural skills and knowledge programme, designed to enhance smallholder farmers’ productivity, profitability and environmental sustainability.
The programme, involving classroom sessions, practical exercises, and demonstrations, equips farmers with techniques in conservation agriculture, water harvesting, and soil management, while also supporting access to credit and markets to improve overall food security and economic outcomes.
The master farmer certificate requires two years of training, with an option to obtain an advanced certificate after an additional year.
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