Matobo farmers urged to use Arda farm in Maphisa

01 Jun, 2014 - 00:06 0 Views
Matobo farmers urged to use Arda farm in Maphisa FARMING

The Sunday News

farmingRoberta Katunga Senior Farming Reporter
FARMERS in Matobo have been advised to use the Arda farm in Maphisa which has been lying idle for more than a year due to lack of resources as part of efforts to implement the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation that has a cluster on food security and nutrition.

According to the economic blueprint the thrust of the Food Security and Nutrition Cluster is to create a self-sufficient and food surplus economy and see Zimbabwe re-emerge as the “Bread Basket of Southern Africa”.

Ultimately, it seeks to build a prosperous, diverse and competitive food security and nutrition sector that contributes significantly to national development through the provision of an enabling environment for sustainable economic empowerment and social transformation.

Speaking at the Matobo North Agricultural Area Show Member of National Assembly Cde Never Khanye said constituencies had to complement government efforts by making contributions towards using resources like Arda farms that were lying idle.

“That irrigation scheme has everything in it that is pipes and canals. What is needed is for people to come together and contribute towards buying inputs and for us to seek permission to use the scheme or have it leased out to us,” said Cde Khanye.

He said it was important to train communities on farming in order to boost food security in the district instead of relying on donor funding and handouts.

Cde Khanye said the villagers could even apply for a loan from Agribank to purchase inputs.

“We have to work together with NGOs on developmental programmes not to receive food aid as though we cannot work for ourselves,” he said.
According to Cde Khanye, work at Arda farm should begin in October on time for the summer farming season.

Responding to questions on whether people were aware of what Zim Asset was and the steps Government was taking in raising awareness among villagers, Cde Khanye said he had been going to different wards in his constituency trying to explain and encourage people to add value to all their products especially livestock.

He said out of the 14 wards in his constituency, he had covered five.

“The issue of feedlots is what we have been trying to hammer on a lot because people from this region have been selling their livestock especially cattle at give-away prices but if they fatten them and take really good care of these cattle, they can sell at better prices.
If we implement Zim Asset directly on what they have, they understand better,” he said.

Speaking at the same event, Veterinary Distributors technical sales supervisor Mr Manford Nyoni urged farmers to take good care of their livestock during the dry season so that they do not lose them to diseases or hunger.

Mr Nyoni said it was very important for farmers to dose their cattle in order to kill liver fluke, inject the animals with Vitamin A, D and E supplements to boost appetite and give them browse plus to help with digestion and absorption of dry grass into the system.

“As we move away from the wet season to the dry one, it is important to de-worm our animals and to take steps in ensuring that our livestock is kept healthy. Farmers have to take farming as a business by adding value to their livestock and this means maintaining it properly,” said Mr Nyoni.

Mr Robert Moyo, one of the farmers from Ward 25 in Matobo North, who won the first prize for the best melons said he was looking forward to participating in the provincial shows and urged other farmers to take farming seriously as there was much to be gained.

“We are happy that we have been rewarded for our efforts and we are confident that our produce will be the best in other shows,” said Mr Moyo.

The Matobo agricultural area show which was held under the theme “Food security and nutrition, playing our part in Zim Asset”, saw farmers exhibiting various produce that included sorghum, maize, groundnuts, sugar beans, cow peas, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, melons and horticultural products among others.

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