adminTapuwa Justice Mashangwa Agriculture Column
Last week I wrote about agribusiness; how agriculture has evolved to become a profit generating sector over the years.
It is also paramount to understand that the key to success in this world is practical knowledge. Intelligence does not run the world, practicality, innovation, wisdom, perseverance and intelligence combined do.
I am in several Whatsapp agricultural groups and in one of the groups one participant was sharing how they almost got tricked into buying a specie of poultry chicks called Bosch but luckily the participant had gone with an expert who informed her that the supposedly “Bosch” chicks were fake and was saved from losing $600!
Considering the value of $600 in Zimbabwe’s current economy, it is a lot of money and nowadays people kill each other for less.
The moral at the end of the day is the importance of reading, knowing and understanding fully an agricultural project one wants to get themselves involved in. Imagine how many people have been tricked by fake consultants, workshop providers, and bought or paid for substandard or non-existent products and services.
Research is key and one cannot and should not get involved in something they have no knowledge about. They say ignorance is bliss but simultaneously ignorance is dangerous, infectious and hazardous!
One of the factors affecting our agricultural sector and is causing farmers to have zero or low profits margins is lack of adequate research. It is ironic how Zimbabwe, with one of the highest literacy rates in the world, possesses a struggling agricultural sector.
Our issue or situation is that with intelligence or literacy comes pride characterised by “a know it all” attitude and that everything is easy to do. Just the other day I was amused at the fact that the United States of America has one of the best international universities and highly considered qualifications like Chartered Financial Analysis (CFA) and prestigious Institute of Actuaries but has gone through so many avoidable economic meltdowns.
It is not a question of intelligence but rather a question of practicality because that is what matters the most. We have some farmers that have no idea what they are doing.
Despite a lot of support from the government and its partners, we still do not have an efficient agricultural sector.
We can unfairly and continuously blame late rains, prolonged mid-season dry spells and nowadays climate change for our poor agricultural performance but that is no longer the issue. We cannot do things the same way and expect different results.
Research and strictly abiding by the agricultural rules, advice and information freely and cheaply available, consulting, asking experts and those running profit making farms helps immensely.
Reading, knowing and understanding an agricultural project at hand is the best place to begin to positively change things. Change is inevitable and with it comes success and well deserved growth as long as the basic requirements of the system are met.
The second verse of our Zimbabwean National Anthem states “Oh lovely Zimbabwe, so wondrously adorned with mountains, and rivers cascading, flowing free; May rain abound, and fertile fields; May we be fed, our labour blessed; And may the Almighty protect and bless our land.”
God has blessed us and I hope and pray we utilise our blessings well. We are our own future and in my heart I believe and know that, the future remains green.
Tapuwa Justice Mashangwa is a young entrepreneur based in Bulawayo, the Founder and CEO of Emerald Agribusiness Consultancy. He can be contacted on +263 739 096 418 or email: [email protected]
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