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Victor Maphosa Mashonaland East Bureau
Wheat farmers need to put in standard fire guards to protect their crop from fire and ensure that the gains made towards self-sufficiency in wheat are not reversed by the wild fires, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Mashonaland East Dr Aplonia Munzverengi said yesterday.
Officiating at a wheat field day at Neptune Farm in Goromonzi district, where a local farmer Mr Simbarashe Mabauwa (37) has put 62 hectares under wheat, Dr Munzverengi said the nation had come a long way to reach a stage where there was enough wheat.
“Harvesting of wheat has started,” she said. “I would like to urge wheat farmers to make sure that their wheat fields are protected from veld fires by constructing standard fire guards,” she said. “To date, over 83 000 hectares of land in Mashonaland East has been burnt due to uncontrolled veld fires.
“These fires have resulted in the loss of human life, loss of animal life, injuries to humans and livestock, damage of valuable properties as well as fauna in various grazing land and forests. Let us protect our wheat.
“We have worked so hard to reach this wheat stage. As neighbours, we should work together to guard jealously against the success of our agrarian land reform. Today I am impressed by Mr Mabauwa, a young energetic and patriotic farmer whose aim is economic development. He is making money through farming although he does not own land himself. May I urge all youths to go into partnerships and make money as is being encouraged by the Second Republic.”
Dr Munzverengi saluted President Mnangagwa for the unwavering support he was giving to farmers.
“President Mnangagwa has been on top of the situation to make sure that this country becomes not only food secure but self-sufficient as well,” she said. “The support to small holder farmers by the President during the 2022 winter season has resulted in tremendous increase in area planted for wheat.”
Mr Mabauwa, who has 62 hectares on wheat, thanked Government for supporting young farmers and appealed for land, since he is doing agriculture on rented land.
He self financed 54 hectares of wheat and Government assisted him on the remaining 8 hectares.
“I am passionate about farming, but I do not have any land,” said Mr Mabauwa. “I am currently renting this land and there is no guarantee that I will be here next season. So, my appeal to our President, Dr E.D Mnangagwa, is for us youths who have this potential to be considered and be given some land.”
Another young farmer Mr Taurai Jevinary from Goromonzi, also appealed to authorities to consider him in the allocation of land.
“I have put 90 hectares on wheat and I want to do more, but the problem is I do not own land,” he said. “I am appealing to authorities to intervene and assist us with land so that we can fully realise our potential as youths.”
Mashonaland East has been increasing the area planted for wheat from 7 252 hectares in 2020, 9 237 hectares in 2021 and 12 579 hectares this year.
Online Reporter