Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza, Sunday News Reporter
FOR Mr Enock Mcijo, land under power infrastructure in the form of electricity pylons — towering structures that cut across Mahatshula and Cement Side suburbs in Bulawayo — is a “gold mine” that he fully utilises during the rainy season.
The land that he grows maize every year is about more than three and a half acres and in a good season he harvests an average of four tonnes.
Vast land under electricity pylons is in abundance in Bulawayo and urban farmers such as Mr Mcijo are utilising it to grow a variety of crops such as maize, soya beans and sweet potatoes, among others.
The land was cleared by the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) when the power pylons were erected to distribute electricity from the source of production in Hwange or Kariba to urban cities such as Bulawayo and Gweru.
The land is fertile and good for maize and other crops, Mr Mcijo told Sunday News in a recent interview.
“I use a tractor to till the land unlike most urban farmers who use hoes and other hand tools. We have a lot here under electricity pylons that some of it, especially as one walks towards Cement Side from Mahatshula is still underutilised.
“I have been growing maize on a piece of land about four acres for over five years and I harvest about four tonnes in a good year,” said Mr Mcijo.
The urban farmer uses most of his harvest to feed road runner chickens in his rural home in Mbembesi.
“I keep just a few 50 kilogramme bags for mealie-meal for the family and the rest of the harvest is reserved for chicken feed. I believe that farming under electricity pylons is a win win for both the owners of the infrastructure and urban farmers. We keep the land under the pylons clear of trees and other vegetation while also growing food for our families and livestock,” he said.
The continuous rains in Bulawayo have sparked hope among urban farmers, who have planted a variety of crops with some of them already cultivating their fields.
Urban farming is widely practised in Bulawayo, with residents cultivating available plots near their homes, in bushy areas and in some cases under major infrastructure such as electricity pylons and along busy roads.
In suburbs like Emganwini, residents till land along the Bulawayo-Plumtree Road, while in Mahatshula, farmers have taken over open spaces along the Bulawayo-Harare Highway.
These crops rely on rain-fed agriculture, with harvests heavily influenced by seasonal rainfall.
Government initiatives, through the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (Arda) in partnership with private sector contractors, aim to produce 500 000 tonnes of summer grains from 100 000 hectares, alongside 300 000 tonnes of winter crops from 60 000 hectares. The scheme provides financing support and technical guidance to farmers.
Mr Ronald Makono, an urban farmer in Mahatshula, emphasised the importance of early land preparation for rain-fed agriculture.
“The soils here are good and depending on the field size, some of us can grow maize on up to a hectare or more. The recent rains have made it easier to prepare the land, but I will wait a bit longer before planting,” said Mr Makono.
He said the 2024/25 season was challenging, yielding only 19 bags of maize from his plot, while a good season could produce over 30 bags.
“Early planting around mid-November allows crops to benefit from the peak rains in February,” he explained.
Tractor hiring costs vary depending on land size and farmers must cover fuel expenses.
According to the Meteorological Services Department (MSD), farmers can expect normal to above-normal rainfall in the south and normal to below-normal rainfall in the north this season, providing conditions conducive to successful summer cropping.
Bongani Ndlovu