Online Reporter
Samuel Kadungure
News Editor
A SIGNIFICANT surge in joint ventures (JVs) has transformed the agricultural landscape, with over 2 500 partnership agreements registered by Government across the country.
The approach has yielded remarkable results, particularly in Manicaland, where farmers in Makoni District have witnessed substantial productivity gains.
Historically, Manicaland struggled to optimise its vast tracts of arable land, but a new generation of young agripreneurs is bridging this gap through strategic joint ventures.
By pooling resources, expertise, and risk, these partnerships have become a game-changer in the province’s agricultural sector, driving growth, productivity, and sustainability.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary, Professor Obert Jiri last Saturday toured three farms under Mossfield Farms, fronted by Mr Fungai Makoni, who partnered several farmers to cultivate 1 300 hectares under centre pivot irrigation and using advanced machinery – enhancing production methodologies and realising excellent yields in winter wheat, maize, tobacco, potatoes, and livestock.
His vision is to transform Manicaland into a hub for smart and precision agricultural production, producing high-quality products.
“The land reform has ushered in a phase where we now need to focus on productivity, and most of our farmers have faced
challenges in accessing finance and developing their capacity to produce. This is why we are promoting joint ventures (JVs), where we match farmers with land and investors with the necessary capacity to ensure that no land lies idle and unproductive.
“We are witnessing the success of this approach here, where an investor has partnered with local farmers to cultivate over 1 300 hectares in Manicaland through joint ventures. Countrywide, we have more than 2 500 joint ventures underway across various crops.
“Those investing in joint ventures are performing well because they bring a business mindset to farming. Farming is a business, and agriculture is a business.
‘‘When investors come, they focus on productivity, which is our primary objective. The JV programme requires our farmers’ understanding, and while the mechanics may vary, we are seeing tangible benefits, including increased yields and more productive land,” said Professor Jiri.
Professor Jiri said the nation has a contingent of young farmers who may not have received large tracts of land during the land reform.
However, these young farmers are enthusiastic agricultural entrepreneurs with the energy and drive to succeed in the farming business.
Professor Jiri observed that these young farmers collaborate, plan, and motivate each other to boost productivity and production in their agricultural enterprises across the country.
“They are committed to making agriculture a successful business venture. This mindset has also contributed to the surge in joint ventures. The rise of young farmers is a notable trend, and we are seeing them continue growing and developing. Together, they form a formidable force, ensuring that agriculture is indeed a fruitful business,” he said.
Professor Jiri also gave an update on wheat harvesting.
“We have now entered the winter wheat harvesting season, and across the provinces, we have harvested over 1 500 hectares of early-planted crops, planted between early to mid-May. In the drier regions, harvesting is underway, and yields from the early-planted crop are remarkably high, averaging seven tonnes per hectare. We anticipate that the bulk of our wheat will be harvested in October, well ahead of the rainy season. As expected, the rains will arrive in November, and we are confident that all the wheat will have been harvested by then. Our harvesters are poised and ready, with over 290 machines lined up across the winter wheat clusters countrywide,” said Professor Jiri.
Mossfield Farms has achieved a notable increase in winter wheat production, cultivating approximately 800 hectares this season.
“I would like to express my appreciation for the reliable power supply this season, a significant improvement from last year.
‘‘We are anticipating an excellent harvest, driven by our mantra to feed the nation with locally produced products. Our goal is to reduce our net wheat importation to zero,” said Mr Makoni, while acknowledging the supportive operating environment and Government backing, which has enabled the farm to expand from 20 hectares to over 3 000 hectares, with plans to reach 4 000 hectares this year.
“We have also diversified into cattle production, potatoes, tobacco, and cereals, which has been very successful. We appreciate Government’s efforts in creating an enabling environment that allows us to give back to the community and economy while driving business growth. We currently employ over 2 000 people, contributing to employment creation within the communities we operate in,” said Mr Makoni, attributing their success to a skilled management team, comprising degree-holding managers and experienced foremen.
“We prioritise research, precision, and correct agronomic practices, which has enabled us to grow the business steadily. Moreover, in today’s era, one cannot overlook the importance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). We extensively utilise technology to manage our irrigation systems, monitor soil moisture levels through probes, and optimise our operations. Weather forecasting, precision farming, and data analysis – technology plays an integral role in our planning and decision-making processes, enabling us to work efficiently and effectively,” said Mr Makoni.
