The Sunday News
Judith Phiri, Farming Reporter
YOUTH in Agriculture Apex Council in collaboration with a women and girl child empowerment group, Upfumi Kumadzimai-Inotho Kubomama have come up with 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 the two organisations would be rolling out the smart agriculture concept in the Matabeleland region in a bid to improve productivity and food security.
“We are currently finalising the smart agriculture document and it should be done in a couple of weeks. The document will outline how smallholder farmers in Matabeleland can increase food security in the region bearing in mind the effects of climate change.
“We have begun implementing the concept though on a small scale. The smart farming concept helps farmers to make the most out of their land and cattle, producing core products, using less labour and resources. It also provides the insights and detailed data, which helps farmers to figure out the most suitable conditions for crops to grow,” said Mrs Mwedzi-Agwaniru.
She added: “We are targeting a variety of crops such as onion, sweet potato among others and this will enable farmers to satisfy the local market, at the same time also export their produce.”
Mrs Mwedzi-Agwaniru also hinted that although the concept is being rolled out, accessing land was a challenge.
“Our major challenge is that of acquiring land to further implement the concept, at least close to 10 hectares of land are needed. To make matters worse so far no youths under YAABC have received land which has been a major setback though they have submitted applications to the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement,” she said.
Meanwhile, Upfumi Kumadzimai-Inotho Kubomama has embarked on several other projects at its leased farm in Umzingwane District. In 2017 the Bulawayo-based women and girl child empowerment non-governmental organisation entered a Memorandum Of Understanding (MoU) with Mr Walter Moyo of Woodlands in Umzingwane to utilise part of his 54-hectare farm for cropping of cereals, horticultural produce as well as rearing of small stock.
“We are also doing our piggery project, goat rearing and we just imported 100 percent Boer goats from Namibia which have arrived in Bulawayo. We intend to cross-breed with our local Hard MaShona and Matebele goats.
“We are also working on requesting the Minister of State for Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Judith Ncube to come and officiate at our goats cross-breeding project on the 6th of November, at the farm where we are currently operating from,” said Mrs Mwedzi-Agwaniru.-@phiri_judie
