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Mangaliso Lawrence Kabulika
WITH the 2023/24 cropping season now on the horizon, peri-urban farmers have intensified their preparations, as they target to make a head start and maximise yields thereby contributing to food and nutrition security for the urbanites and even beyond. The Herald recently interviewed various urban farmers in Harare who are preparing their pieces of land for planting.
Dzivarasekwa farmer, Mrs Grace Sibanda said:
“This year I am tilling my land early so that when the early rain falls, I would have already planted. I have two acres of land and last year I managed to get only a tonne of maize due to late planting but when I plant in time I get two and half tonnes of maize,” she said.
Another farmer, Mrs Clara Machoko, said she relied on Presidential inputs for her small piece of land.
“I’ve started holing already and I will add some chicken manure to act as fertiliser when I plant as soon as the early rains fall. We are still waiting for maize seed from the Presidential input scheme though sometimes its not enough since we get only a five-kilogramme packet maybe, because there are a lot of people who also need it. We also add our supplements to meet out targets,” she said.
Zimbabwe Integrated Commercial Farmers Union(ZICFU) president Mrs Maivepi Jiti said urban farmers were increasingly becoming a fundamental part of agriculture, as they contributed to household food security.
“They contribute immensely not only to household food security but to national food security, creating employment as well as economically empowering themselves because they integrate new technologies to their family businesses, earning incomes and saving on buying food daily. Their proximity to big markets and customers ensures reduced post-harvest losses and prolonged freshness of products. Urban farming is contributing to the cleanliness of the environment through the absorption of carbon dioxide and other pollutants,” said Mrs Jiti.
In light of the above, one farmer, Mr George Kabasa shared his sentiments saying last season he managed to get two tonnes of maize and sold some of it and bought some solar panels for his house.
“The surplus maize is for my family. I have a big family of 15, which relies on mealie meal on a daily basis,” he said.
Another farmer Mrs Loveness Maliseni, said she sells most of her maize to locals.
“I sell most of my green mealies to locals and this helps me to pay my household bills and also buy some other food stuffs for my family of three. I am a widow. Last season I managed to get 10 bags of maize. I selected the best cobs, which I will use as seed this season in case there is a delay in the disbursement of the Presidential inputs,” said Mrs Maliseni.
Mr Revai Mikungu also said he was planting early to avoid water logging.
“I am making ridges, as the soil here easily gets waterlogged. Last season most of my crop was damaged by excessive rains and this compromised my family’s food security. I also incurred losses through buying more inputs,” said Mr Mikungu.
Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services (ARDAS) chief director Professor Obert Jiri said sustainable production of food crops in urban areas is critical in the food security of the country.
“The urban population is critical in the food security nexus of the country. Rural urban migration has led to increased food requirements and insecurity in urban areas. The current food requirement for the urban population is about 685 000 tonnes per year. Sustainable production of the food crops in urban areas can help contribute towards this need within the confines of the city by-laws,” said Prof Jiri.
Online Reporter