Nail farming, harvesting big in Zim?

Youth Interactive Writer

Did you know you can be a nail farmer? Yes, you read that right  — your fingernails!

Although it may sound weird, nail farming has become a reality for those venturing into this niche market.

Young boys in Zimbabwe are turning to this unusual crop.

Polished and well-manicured fingernails are mostly for beautification and enhancing one’s appearance.

Lately, some men have been keeping them for monetary purposes.

Nails are made of keratin, a hard but flexible material. Usually, healthy nails are pinkish to skin-coloured but vary in shape and appearance.

Reasons why one might choose to keep and grow their nails may vary according to certain beliefs and perceptions.

Some keep their nails for aesthetics to make a bold fashion statement while expressing personal style.

Others keep and grow their nails to length for spiritual practices. Long fingernails are believed to possess spiritual significance connecting bearers to the ancestors.

Culturally, some believe they are the epitome of wealth, status, and age.

Artistically long fingernails are used for musical purposes to help in playing certain instruments like the guitar.

When all has been said and done, some keep nails for sentimental value to cherish and hold onto memories.

The longest finger nails to be recorded as yet in the Guinness World Records belong to 66-year-old Diana Armstrong from America.

Armstrong is known for having kept her nails for 27 years in memory of her daughter who tragically succumbed to asthma. From 1997 till then, it is believed she has never cut her nails.

Her nails measure a whopping 1 306.58 cm.

An emotional part of Armstrong’s ode on her daughter’s death captured her final moments with her.

“I went through something when my daughter passed away in 1997. She was the only one who did my nails and had done them the night before, she was up all night. She was 16 when she died of an asthma attack in her sleep. That was the worst day of my life,” she painfully recalled.

Recently The Herald on Saturday Lifestyle bumped into one nail farmer awaiting their harvest, who gave bits and pieces of information to the current trends.

Lately, a trend has been growing in Zimbabwe with men choosing to farm, grow and harvest their nails for a fee charged depending on the length.

A source revealed that the price of a nail is currently at $25 and they range in length and growth.

However, those keeping the nails refused to disclose who their clients are but they are not only sourced by locals but those from beyond the borders.

As they keep mum, some schools of thought suggest they are used for ritual purposes as men hardly keep nails that long. The idea that those men keeping the nails also sell  them ahas been questioned.

Just like with dreadlocks, if they grow longer or the owner does not need them anymore, they cut them off either for resale or to reuse later when needed.

Puzzle pieces are not coming together as to why locals are slowly adopting the trend, with those  harvesting and keeping their nails choosing not to disclose their reasons except the cost.

Whatever the reason might be, it surely does not seem to be  for aesthetics. But should you think of a business and are out of capital here is a trend some seem to be following.

Though not yet fully exposed, time will tell as to what lies beneath the nail bed.