The Sunday News
Dumisani Nsingo Senior Farming Reporter
THE Department of Research and Specialist Services through the Nyanga Experiment Station has embarked on an extensive deciduous temperature fruit tree adaptive research trials in various parts of the country as it seeks to cut down on fruit imports. Nyanga Experiment Station’s horticultural research officer, Mr Davison Chaingeni said the research institute undertook a study of various deciduous temperature fruit varieties from different countries around the globe with the intention of finding out their adaptive and performance in the country’s ecological regions.
He said this at a field day to promote the growing of deciduous temperature fruit trees in warmer agro-ecological zones that was held at Arab farm in Umguza district on Friday.
Arab farm is being used as an adaptive research trial site to ascertain deciduous temperature fruits that best suit Matabeleland region.
“We have done adaptive research trials in Mutorashanga, Marondera, Chipinge and now Matabeleland. We are looking forward to establish others in Masvingo and Kadoma soon. The trials will enable us to determine, which variety best suits a certain region.
“Through growing these fruit trees one can earn a living as well as improve their health being. One is guaranteed of realising over 80 to 120 kilogrammes of fruits from one tree and depending on the number of trees in their orchard they are likely to get lucrative returns,” Mr Chaingeni said.
Seven apple varieties were put under adaptive research trial at Arab farm in December 2013 and these are Drankenstein, Michal, Anna, Mayaan, Pink Lady, Ellah and Fuji. The peaches varieties were Dewet, San Pedro and Malherbe while only two plums varieties were put on trial and these are Son Gold and Methley.
In a speech read on his behalf by Umguza District Administrator, Mrs Ennet Sithole, the guest of honour, the Member of Parliament for Umguza Constituency and Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Dr Obert Mpofu urged people from the region to venture into fruit growing as it has proven to be a lucrative venture owing to the continued demand of fruits throughout the country.
“For many years we have been made to think that fruit growing is only possible in Manicaland and South Africa. The whole of this drier region has lots of photographic safaris, hotels, colleges and universities than most regions in the country. They consume plenty of fruits yet all this is coming from Manicaland and South Africa and even desert like regions such as Israel. This is not good!” said Dr Mpofu.
He said the demand for fruits will always be there due to their high nutritional content that plays a pivotal role improving people’s health conditions. He further stated that tree planting plays an important role in promoting agro-forestry systems.
“Umguza continues to lead in tobacco growing in this region, being the bread basket of Matabeleland North and Bulawayo, in wheat production, and today it is fruit tree agro-forestry.
