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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Matabeleland South Bureau Chief
WHILE some farmers might struggle to find markets, farmers at an irrigation scheme in Gwanda practise targeted market farming where they first secure orders for their produce, before planting.
The 8 hectare Madema Garden, which is located in Patana Village and produces based on client needs — has butternut, groundnuts and maize and farmers recently harvested wheat.
The irrigation scheme which has 57 members was established in 1995 by Government through the District Development Fund (DDF). The farmers have been maintaining it by rehabilitating the fence and canals.
A farmer at the scheme, Ms Lista Nyathi, said they first look for buyers before they produce. She said clients state the type of crop they want and seed variety as well as the amount of produce required.
Ms Nyathi said in addition to the orders from clients they also produce for household consumption. She said this method has helped to reduce losses caused by lack of markets.
“When we started off at the irrigation scheme we were producing like the others where we grow crops of our choice and sell them. This method, however, had some challenges as we would fail to sell all the produce and end up giving it to people or consuming it so that it doesn’t rot. Sometimes we would struggle to get markets,” she said.
“We decided to change our strategy. We now look for the markets first and then we produce per order. We have butternut, groundnuts and maize which all belong to clients. A client first comes to us and tells us the kind of seed they want and then we go and buy it and plant in our garden. When the crops are ready the client comes to collect. We also grow crops of our choice for household consumption though at a small scale.”
She said while they produce according to client needs they also practice crop rotation to preserve nutrients in the soil.
Another farmer, Ms Salfina Tlou, said the irrigation scheme has become a reliable source of livelihood for her and her family. She said training they have received from Agritex extension officers has helped them to improve the quality of their crops.
Ms Tlou said they target to maximise production and realise significant profits while at the same time focusing on nutrition for their families.
Another farmer, Ms Nomathemba Mkhwananzi, said the garden has not only assisted them with income but is also a reliable food source for their families.
“I have harvested cereal that will take me up to next year when we harvest the crop from the fields. I’m looking forward to harvesting six buckets of maize which will last me to March just before I harvest from my fields. We set aside a portion of land for producing for the market and then we also produce for consumption with our families,” she said.
Ms Mkhwananzi said their garden has remained a major food source for the community over the past seven years.
Gwanda District Agritex officer, Mrs Zimhlophe Ndlovu said the smart marketing strategy that had been adopted by the Madema community was very commendable. She said farmers need to be innovative in their production to record good yields and contribute towards achieving food and nutrition security.
Mrs Ndlovu said as Agritex they continue to train farmers to ensure that they adopt smart and modern farming techniques which can help boost their production.
“The initiative by Madema community garden members has seen farmers engaging potential customers before planting any crop to avert losses associated with lack of markets. This is what we are always encouraging farmers when we say they shouldn’t only focus on producing but they also have to treat their operation as a business enterprise. The establishment of climate-proof nutritional gardens in areas that are usually dry dovetails with Government’s thrust of improving rural livelihoods.
“If we look at this area it’s a dry community but with this garden they are surviving,” she said.
Government is targeting to have at least one nutrition garden established in each ward to ensure food and nutrition security within households.
Government and its various partners which include non-governmental organisations and various institutions have facilitated the establishment of a number of nutrition gardens, mostly solar powered within communities in the province. Gardens that were already in existence, but not fully productive have been capacitated.
The gardens have assisted communities to access nutritional diets. They are also a source of livelihood for some households. — @DubeMatutu
Online Reporter