Story by Providence Maraneli
YOUTHS in the Patana area of Gwanda South are taking the lead in food security issues by investing in irrigation infrastructure, turning the once-dry region into a green belt.
In the heart of the usually dry and sun-baked terrain of the semi-arid Gwanda South, there is a silver lining tucked in an area called Patana.
This is an integrated horticulture and cereal cropping project by a youthful farmer which has become a beacon of hope to the people who have been toiling for years depending on rain-fed agriculture but with nothing to show for it.
The scheme which is now supplying horticultural produce and maize to the community has become a source of employment for youths in the area and speaks to the Second Republic’s rural industrialisation drive.
“When we got water here, we said we should work to transform our area, our area does not receive enough rain and it is always dry. So after we got this water we became dedicated to the cause, now our dream is to expand and then create employment. We are also happy that we have become a source of food for the community,” farmer, Century Sphuma said.
“We are so happy with our project because we are now giving food to the community and we also give work to the youths so that they are not idle,” another farmer, Kemisotho Mdlongwa said.
Agriculture experts are convinced that such projects dovetail with the government’s drive to climate-proof agriculture through the irrigation drive.
“I am so impressed by the production that is being done by this youthful family, we have been advising him to take it as a business. Now we are advising him to sell this crop as green mealies and they are also into watermelons and they are doing well,” Agritex extension officer, Hlangabeza Moyo said.
“As the community, we are impressed by the production here, this has transformed our community,” Councillor for Ward 24, Ntokozo Ndabalime said.
The Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Honourable Omphile Marupi who officiated at a field day in Patana this Wednesday, lauded the youths for driving community transformation.
“This is one of those good projects in the region because we hardly receive the rains, we can produce through irrigation and the most important and impressive thing is that it is being done by the youths who are also now helping in fighting school dropouts through paying fees. It is clear that we are dealing with something that is tangible. The President is always saying the youths are the future and now this is the future,” Honourable Marupi said.
The government is on a drive to climate-proof agriculture through irrigation development and the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme.
