The Sunday News
Judith Phiri, Business Reporter
YOUTHS in Agriculture Apex Council in collaboration with a women and girl-child empowerment group, Upfumi Kumadzimai-Inotho Kubomama have identified networks in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where they are set to acquire machinery to assist in value addition of produce in the farming sector.
The machinery is set to promote a smart agriculture model which best suits smallholder farmers in the Matabeleland region to enhance production. Youth in Agriculture Apex Council Bulawayo ambassador Mrs Nonceba Mwedzi-Agwaniru who is also Upfumi Kumadzimai-Inotho Kubomama co-ordinator said once they have mobilised enough funds, they will acquire high standard or quality machinery in the UAE.
“The smart agriculture model requires smallholder farmers in Matabeleland to use high standard or quality technological machinery so that they can increase food security in the region bearing in mind the effects of climate change. We are still mobilising funds and once we get enough, we will then be able to source our machinery in UAE as we have identified networks in that regard,” said Mrs Mwedzi-Agwaniru.
She said that the smart agriculture model which was being implemented on a small-scale had started to bear fruit as smallholder farmers in the Matabeleland region are reaping rewards. Mrs Mwedzi-Agwaniru said they were also developing management information systems to record all their farming systems.
“We are currently developing management information systems to record all our farming operations and hope to develop a software tool which will improve efficiency as well as allow us to properly evaluate progress and identify areas of concern.”
She said the use of other equipment like sensors, drones, robots and artificial intelligence will also greatly improve production especially on the horticultural side. Mrs Mwedzi-Agwaniru said the group was also planning to engage other stakeholders in the value chain on the usage of technologies as part of efforts to improve production efficiency.
Meanwhile, she said they were also currently active in other projects such as poultry, piggery, Boer goat and organic horticulture farming.
“For poultry our objective is to be producers of free-range chicks and supply farmers with an effort to promote healthy living, for the successful implementation we currently need more incubators,” she said.
Mrs Mwedzi-Agwaniru said for piggery their intentions were to become leaders in the venture. In terms of horticulture, she said their aim was to establish hydroponic units at community level giving the benefits of both fish and fast growing organic healthy foods worthy of export.
“The funding we get will determine how far we can go or how much we can capacitate ourselves. We have a vision of entering the export market with fresh farm produce and that requires growth and commitment. Vision 2030 can then become a reality with all hands-on deck.”
However, like any other organisation, Mrs Mwedzi-Agwaniru said they were facing funding challenges.
“As an organisation comprising of youth our projects and sites are inadequately funded and therefore, we make do with what we can but equipment is sorely needed in order to improve efficiency in all areas of production by introducing smart farming technologies to our operations.”
