Farming to ease food shortages in prisons

Agritex training officer Mrs Tariro Masarirambi said her organisation was working towards improving food security in the country.
“Urban farming has helped out many people in enhancing food security since some farmers can even sell their surplus to the Grain Marketing Board,” said Mrs Masarirambi.

Kentucky Prison Farm put 20 hectares under maize in the just ended 2011/2012 cropping season.
The yield is going to ease food shortages faced by prisoners.
The Prison Farm manager Senior Officer Caroline Majogo commended the ZPS project office for providing inputs to the farm.

“Although the rains were not constant we managed to have a better yield and if an irrigation plant was around we would have done better,” she said.
Plans are underway at Chikurubi Farm Prison to have an irrigation plant. The idea is aimed at making all prisons self-sufficient countrywide to curb hunger among inmates.

Guest speaker at the event Mrs Rebecca Gwamiridza acknowledged the importance of field days as they help farmers to share ideas.
“Field days are and will continue to be crucial forums for farmers and stakeholders to interact and also learn about modern farming techniques as well as share experience that is useful to agricultural development,” she said.

The farm is into animal husbandry, which contributes towards manure through animal waste.
Meanwhile Nico Orgo Fertilisers senior sales marketing agronomist for Eastern Region, Mrs Hakunaweyo Shumba said her company supplied all prisons with organic manure and she was happy with the results at Kentucky Prison Farm.

“Field days enable us to spread information about our products and to get feedback from our customers as witnessed here,” said Mrs Shumba.
Officer Commanding Mashonaland Region, Senior Assistant Commissioner Masimba Chisora said it was the prison’s mandate to turn around the country’s economy through farming activities countrywide.