Women’s Month: Shamva farmer reaps fruits of determination

Fatima Bulla-Musakwa

Gender, Health and Community Editor

Consistency will pay off this season for a Shamva farmer, who, after three successive seasons of crop written off by drought, is set to realise a bumper harvest.

Mrs Christina Makuvire’s sheer determination and grit speaks of her personality on and off the field as she is also an Air Force of Zimbabwe Group Captain.

She has been with the Air Force for the past 20 years.

**A farm labourer enjoys meat while her colleague admires**

Located about 90km north east of Harare at Lion’s Den Farm, she has thriving 21 hectares of maize and 13ha of sugar beans, with 10ha apiece contracted under Command Agriculture.

Command Agriculture, now called the National Enhanced Agricultural Productivity Scheme (NEAPS), was introduced in the 2016/2017 summer cropping season.

Group Cpt Makuvire realised her harvest after deciding to take another risk though the costs of losses incurred after the drought had worn her finances off.

Had rains failed to come for the fourth successive season, she was certain to give up.

**Air force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) Group Captain Christine Makuvire in her maturing maize crop**

“I almost gave up after three successive droughts,” she said. “But I then decided to try once more this season. I also have part of the harvest contracted under Command Agriculture.

“I have had to juggle my duties with the Air Force as well as being a farmer. It’s a lot of work which requires commitment.”

Shamva is famed for its gold deposits and not many people are keen to ignore the possible lucrative gold findings through panning in exchange to working on the farms.

“The key is to ensure you also treat your workers well because, especially this season, there was a lot of work,” said Group Cpt Makuvire.

“They dedicated themselves to ensure that we realised great results.”

Air force of Zimbabwe ( AFZ) Group Captain Christine Makuvire serves lunch to one of her farm workers at a ceremony to thank them for their work as she expects a bumper harvest from the flourishing 21 hectares maize and 13 hectares soya bean crops at Lionsden Farm in Shamva last week

She recently hosted a mini-party to thank her workers for their hard work.

While the farm is located just about 200 metres from Mazowe River, without irrigation equipment, the hot temperatures which characterise the area and the soil which does not hold moisture for long remain a problem whose solution is in sight.

“The infrastructure for irrigation is there,” said Group Cpt Makuvire. “Over the past years I have been buying some equipment, but now there is a greater need for centre and lateral pivots.”

Apart from maize and soya beans, Group Cpt Makuvire has also embarked on horticulture, which includes watermelons and butter nuts.

For the 2020/21 farming season, the Government is expecting an increase in crop production under Command Agriculture after the planting hectarage increased by over 18 percent, with maize production also expected to rise.

**Farm worker Mr Batsirai Kamatonga braais meat at a ceremony hosted by Air force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) Group Captain Christine Makuvire to thank her labourers for a successful cropping season**

Maize production under the scheme is expected to surpass the one million tonnes mark from last season’s harvest of around 900 000 tonnes.

With women providing a significant percentage of the labour force among other skills, Group Cpt Makuvire said women needed to grab the bull by its horns and pursue farming ventures.

“Women are very committed and faithful,” she said.

“I had to sell cattle among other personal possessions in order to repay debts incurred for the past three seasons affected by drought.

“So, I urge fellow women to venture into farming because it’s very lucrative and profitable if done professionally. We can be able to look after our families if we take farming seriously.

“Our First Lady, Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa, has always been saying women must work hard and together to uplift each other. The thrust is to encourage each other and I take the opportunity that this month is dedicated to women to send this message.”

**Selma Time and Rutendo Runzonza cut cake while female farm workers (in background) sing and ululate in appreciation**

Re-invigorated by a good rainy season, Group Cpt Makuvire said had it not been for the non-availability of irrigation equipment, she was prepared to venture into winter-wheat farming.

Command Agriculture is central to increasing maize production, boosting the Strategic Grain Reserve and saving the country a lot of foreign currency through import substitution.

It has over the years contributed to overall economic growth and food security.

Despite the integral role played by women in the agriculture sector, they largely do not benefit from the value chain system.

Group Cpt Makuvire said women require Government’s full support to ensure they get to the helm of the sector.

“There is also the issue of repossession of underutilised farms by the Government, which I think is a good idea,” she said. “But for women, as you can see most of us are struggling or disadvantaged in terms of collateral or land ownership.

**Air force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) Group Captain Christine Makuvire in her maturing 21 hectares maize crop**

“It is difficult to assess our ability, so our appeal is if Government could weigh in with support for women and then assess how far we succeed in our farming ventures, then it can go a long way for us.”

Group Cpt Makuvire received a certificate of excellence for her farming ventures in the 2016/17 season also contracted under Command Agriculture.

She started as an A1 farmer in 2003 before she was upgraded to an A2 farmer in 2007.

March is women’s month and women like Group Cpt Makuvire deserve to be celebrated.