Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Post Reporter
WOMEN are taking centre stage in Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector which was once dominated by their male counterparts, and are registering success in driving economic growth, ensuring food security, creating job opportunities, and being part of the grand agricultural revival revolution currently being spearheaded by the Government and the private sector.
Despite facing obstacles such as patriarchal land ownership, limited access to finance and inadequate training, women farmers are breaking the barriers and holding the fort in the sector.
One such farmer is Ms Mavis Mupingo of Nyazura who is defying the odds and is excelling in her agriculture venture which she started 20 years ago with her late husband, Mr Killian Mupingo.
Despite the setback of losing her pillar of strength, she has managed to stay afloat, running a mixed farm where she is into livestock, chicken, horticulture and food crops.
Giving up is not an option for her as she strives to make her farm highly productive and profitable despite facing challenges of capital to invest in modern infrastructure and mechanisation of farm operations to improve efficiency and cut labour costs.
Last the weekend, Ms Mupingo invited fellow farmers to visit her farm to share ideas on how they can improve productivity.
“I do mixed farming, specialising in animals such as pigs, goats, sheep, rabbits, chicken layers and ducks. We also do orchards with over 4 000 fruit trees comprising banana, peaches, plums, apricots, grapes and guavas. We also grow mushroom. The challenges that we are facing is that of inadequate finance. As it stands, my tractor is down and I do not have money to hire one for tillage services, yet the rainy season has kicked-off.
“At the banks, they ask for collateral which most women do not have. Finance is a major challenge for women farmers especially for widows like me. Labour is a challenge as workers in this sector are very nomadic especially when salaries are delayed. Our farm is not yet very productive. We are trying to make the farm highly productive and profitable.
“I came to this farm 20 years ago, aged 38 years. I have been slowly building up. All things here are a culmination of a long build-up. We have made some mistakes, and I have come out of the mud, and learnt to survive. Farming is a very tough journey especially when you do not have anywhere to fall back on,” she said.
Her desire to construct a large water reservoir and set up a modern drip irrigation system remains a dream which is hampered by lack of finance.
Irrigation is the backbone of agriculture especially for horticulture which she is practicing in Region 2B where rainfall can be erratic.
“Our plan is to have a large water reservoir and a drip irrigation system for our fruit trees, but at the moment we are stuck due to lack of adequate funding. We encourage aspiring female farmers to start small from the little resources at their disposal. Grow slowly, learn and acquire experience as you rise up.
“We have invited fellow farmers from the Morning Glory Evangelism, a group of Christian farmers to have a look and learn visit at our farm. Farmers must share knowledge and ideas so that we grow the sector and also make our ventures profitable. We want to thank the Government for availing programmes in agriculture such as Pfumvudza and Command Agriculture which are helping women farmers to access inputs,” said Ms Mupingo.
Mrs Christine Taranhike, a farmer based in Buhera, said women are playing a critical role in agricultural production, helping to fight poverty at the family level. She highlighted that there is need to encourage value addition of produce at homesteads or farms so that farmers reap maximum profits.
“Women are key in fighting hunger and poverty at household levels through farming activities that provide food on the table. Females are encouraged to take up farming from wherever they are, be it at rural homesteads, farms or house backyards in towns. They can start at very small scale, producing for their family consumption only and gradually build up to commercial levels.
“Women are contributing a lot in the agricultural sector through land utilisation, it does not matter if the land belongs to our husbands. The thrust now is to push female farmers to value add their products so that they get more income. Most farmers complain that they are not getting return on their investment because they trading their products in raw form.
“Agriculture is one the easiest way of fighting poverty at family level right up to the national level. The major challenge being faced by female farmers is of financing. Banks dedicated to fund women entrepreneurs must adjust their interest rates so that females are not deterred from applying. Women can also form savings groups and raise money to fund their operations and grow from there,” she said.
An agricultural extension officer in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development based in Ward 33, Nyazura, Mrs Letwin Mabaso said there is a surge of women embracing farming and they are helping them to run farms as proper businesses.
“At this farm there are various activities such as poultry, horticulture and food crops. The crop diversification by Ms Mupingo will enable her to be liquid all the time. Over reliance on one seasonal crop or animal is a dangerous risk. There is a rise of females who are taking up agriculture as a business in this ward. The era of women waiting for husbands to bring food on the table is over as every person has to come on board and produce.
“Agriculture activities still thrive on a small pieces of land as we encourage maximum utilisation. Women must rise up and defeat gender stereotypes. Farmers are also encouraged to attend trainings and field days to that they share notes. A farmer cannot improve without copying the best,” she said.
