tawandamusarurwa
Youth Buzz
Rudo Mandiro
GAMUCHIRAI CHIHOBO (25) always dreamt of being a full-time farmer.
As a teen, while his peers spent their time engaging in all manner of youthful mischief, he would spend hours on end in his mother’s backyard garden.
He found little joy in any other endeavour, apart from working the land.
As fate would have it, in 2013, he was given a portion of his father’s 30-hectare farm in Centenary, Mashonaland Central, along with his elder brother, Charles, setting him well on course to pursue his lifelong dream.
He was only 15 years old at the time.
A year later, after completing his Ordinary Level studies at St Albert’s High School in Muzarabani, he wasted no time, before embarking on the road to pursuing his vision.
Before long, the youthful farmer was raking in the big bucks.
“Being a farmer has always been a passion,” he told The Sunday Mail recently.
“The agriculture lessons I received in school enhanced my love for the trade.”
He immediately ventured into tobacco farming on a three-hectare plot.
His first harvest was life-changing.
Chihobo got close to 67 bales of the golden leaf, valued at nearly US$30 000.
“It felt great watching the crop grow by the day,” he said.
“For a moment, I could not believe my own hands could produce such a bountiful crop.”
He used his earnings from the first harvest to buy farm equipment, including a second-hand tractor, and also installed a modern irrigation system.
His goal was to enhance the quality of his yield in seasons to come.
His harvests progressively bulged with each passing season, as he garnered experience and increasingly mechanised his production.
This season is shaping up to be his best yet.
He will auction 120 bales of tobacco, which were produced on about five hectares.
Chihobo expects to rake in no less than US$45 000 at the auction floors, using last week’s average price of US$3 per kg.
“This year, the financial rewards are quite significant,” he said.
“The rains were good and the season was perfect.
“Most importantly, I am very thankful to the Government for providing a youth empowerment mentorship programme for us young people in agriculture.”
Apart from tobacco farming, he is also nursing a nascent goat-rearing project.
Presently, he has a 50 strong herd of goats.
Chihobo recently tied the knot with his long-time sweetheart, Pamela, who is also his business partner.
His exploits on the farm have elevated his standing in his community, where he is recognised as one of the best young farmers in Muzarabani.
He is presently planning to expand his enterprise, which now employs 15 full-time workers, to include maize and soya bean production.
He urged youths to seize abundant opportunities in agriculture and take farming as a profession.
“Most youths do not realise that farming is one of the most financially rewarding sectors in our economy.
“Many shy away from agriculture because of misconceptions.
“Farming is a business and it is as demanding as any other profession.”
Despite achieving success his peers can only dream of at such a youthful age, his passion for farming continues to burn like a raging fire inside his heart.
He plans to expand his tobacco production to 10 hectares next season.
◆ Twitter: @rudomandiro
Online Reporter