admin
Senior Reporter
A NYANGA farmer who defied all odds by producing maize in the rugged terrains of the Eastern Highlands is this year’s winner of the national Pioneer Seeds small-scale farming competition. Mrs Patricia Nyakwava and her husband, Felix, beat seven farmers from other provinces to land the coveted prize.
For her efforts she had a borehole drilled at her plot and a fully equipped drip irrigation system installed at the farm.
The competition, which is now in its third year, brings together small-scale maize farmers in the country.
Addressing farmers during the prize-giving ceremony yesterday at Nyakwava Homestead in Nyanga, the Deputy Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Cde Supa Mandiwanzira, who is also Nyanga South legislator, praised Pioneer Seeds for running the competition that invigorates activities on the farms.
He said the company’s actions were in line with the tenets of Zim-Asset.
“Pioneer is in the right direction of supporting Zim-Asset with reference to the cluster on Food Security and Nutrition. This is the entry point if we are going to talk of any meaningful development in the country. What is happening here at the Nyakwava homestead gives farmers the impetus to go commercial, to produce more and feed the nation.
“Our small-scale farmers will do well and restore the country’s status as the bread basket of Southern Africa. Sanctions have dealt a heavy blow on our farming industry as some fertiliser companies are now failing to produce adequate inputs. However, companies like Pioneer are doing a great job even in the face of these adverse economic conditions.”
He said Government should take idle land from those who are not utilising it and give it to people like the Nyakwava family who are shining bright in agriculture even on small pieces of land.
Cde Mandiwanzira also urged seed companies to come up with varieties that are in line with the ever-changing climate.
“Our seasons are changing and thus we are challenging seed companies like Pioneer to come up with hybrids that do well in current climatic conditions; varieties that take less time to mature because at times we experience erratic rainfall patterns.”
Speaking at the same occasion the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs in the President’s Office, Cde Didymus Mutasa, said what Pioneer Seeds was doing is a good example of public-private partnership.
“That is the way to grow the economy and other private companies should emulate and come on board. The event we are witnessing here encourages production on the farms. Our freedom fighters perished in the battlefield so that we have a good life. We can achieve that if we are productive on the farms we were given by Government.”
Pioneer Seeds national agronomy manager Mr Tawanda Mangisi said his company was fully behind the land reform programme and will actively take part to see the success of Zim-Asset.
“We are supporting Government with regard to the land reform programme as well as to see the fruition of the Zim-Asset and this explains why we have used $250 000 to run this competition and encourage farmers to produce more.”
Online Reporter