The Sunday News
Roberta Katunga Senior Business Reporter
PREPARATIONS for the summer maize crop at Ingwizi estate in Mangwe district, Matabeleland South are at an advanced stage with at least 500 hectares having been ploughed in preparation for planting, an official said. Ingwizi estate, which spans an area of 1100 ha is run through a partnership between the Agriculture Rural Development Authority and Trek Petroleum which started in March.
In an interview, Estate manager Mr Samuel Nyajeka said at least 100 locals have been employed at the estate since Trek Petroleum joined in, with additional land being opened to allow the planting of 697 ha of maize crop.
He said initially the estate was under flood irrigation and only 500 hectares was being utilised.
“We intend to plant 600 ha of maize and at the moment we have managed to plough 500 ha. All the machinery that we need for our summer preparations is already on site and that includes two 290 Horsepower tractors with chisel ploughs, two John Deere planters and we are also expecting two boom sprayers for applying herbicides,” said Mr Nyajeka.
Mr Nyajeka said the estate was not connected to electricity but Zesa workers were on the ground electrifying the farm so that the 11 centre pivots can be used for irrigation.
He said the farm utilises water from the Ingwizi Dam which is 18 kilometres from the estate and has a holding capacity of about 10.382million cubic metres.
“In addition to sourcing water from the dam, we have built two night storage dams inside the estate so that we can have enough water for irrigation. All is set for the maize crop and we do not expect to face any challenges,” Mr Nyajeka said.
ARDA board chairman Mr Basil Nyabadza said work was under way to clear the 18-kilometre canal so that the estate could access water for the 600 hectares summer maize crop that would be planted.
He said the parastatal was pleased to have secured investors for its estates most of them domestic, in the joint venture to augment the country’s cereals production.
“Equally, water which has been lying idle at Ingwizi Dam and Antelope Dam is now being utilised to irrigate the farms,” said Mr Nyabadza. Trek also partners ARDA at its Antelope estate in Maphisa, Kezi.
