malvernmugadzikwa
EMBOLDENED by the wetness induced by the rains that fell last week, a defiant elderly woman with cracked feet braved the morning sun to commit maize seed to the soil.
Her back had curved, showing it had seen many years and could no longer cope with manual tasks.
“My five children succumbed to HIV/AIDS, leaving me to look after their children despite my advanced age. I have to work as hard as possible to put food on the table for my grandchildren,” the elderly lady told this writer as she wiped beads of sweat from her furrowed brow.
Neighbours and acquaintances of the elderly woman in Rugare, one of the capital’s oldest suburbs, said her only surviving son was a regular guest at the country’s correctional facilities.
Burglary, drug abuse and pickpocketing were his areas of specialty.
Despite her efforts, the woman was using what she considered healthy grain from her previous harvest as seed, and totally ignored advice from the Meteorological Services Department for people not to begin planting.
“I have been receiving good harvests from this plot since time immemorial and I do not listen to anyone discouraging me from working the land. I have to work so that I succeed,” the elderly woman said as she continued with her work.
Co-operation is a big word and so is obedience, but most people seem not prepared to heed advice, hence their high margin of failure.
Weather experts have predicted a normal to below normal rainfall season, which bids on farmers to plant early maturing seed varieties to at least salvage something from the tricky farming season ahead. In such a farming season, one has potential to increase one’s yields by playing to instruction.
The season ahead is certainly not one in which people can rely on seed from the previous season. Instead, people need to buy certified seed, which has proven germination potential and capacity to give farmers a return on their investment.
People usually plan to fail by snubbing advice from agricultural and weather experts, who are mandated with providing information that helps attain respectable yields.
“Zimbabweans are well-known the world over as hardworking people. However, some of us fail because we do not readily accept advice. Whenever one is in the farming business, nothing beats planting correct crop varieties and following good agronomic practices. Farming is an investment and we cannot plant crops that we are not sure of,” said Mrs Mary Mutisi of Borrowdale, Harare.
Similar words were echoed by Mrs Esther Muropa, who said there was need to avoid cutting corners if one needed to succeed.
“If you want to succeed in whatever you do, there is need to avoid cutting corners. Seed, fertilisers and chemicals must at all times be procured from certified dealers and used appropriately to avoid losses associated with using counterfeit material. Farming is a game that needs commitment and a presence of mind to succeed,” she said.
Gentle reader, nothing beats playing to instruction to walk the corridors of success.
Inotambika mughetto.
Feedback: rosenthal.mutakati@zim papers.co.zw
Online Reporter