Story by Tafara Chikumira
A Gokwe farmer has become the envy of many as his farming prowess is set to significantly contribute to the national strategic grain reserves.
The 36-year-old Aleck Mpunzi is a shining example that age is just a number when one decides to take up farming as a business, with his 67-hectare maize crop which has reached the harvesting stage, showing a great bill of health.
With no formal education in farming, Mpunzi attributes his farming prowess to generational experience, with the education from extension officers also coming in handy in his agricultural abilities.
After harnessing good agronomic practices, the farmer is anticipating an average of nine tonnes per hectare from his maize crop this summer cropping season.
“The biggest lesson that changed my way of farming is understanding the needs of my soil texture. Previously, we would just use any other seed to plant, doing it the traditional way. However, with the help of extension officers, we now do soil testing so that we determine the proper seed and fertilisers to apply. There is also need to monitor the crop and ensure that you put the right treatment when the time is ripe,” he said.
Farming experts weighed in saying there is need for farmers to observe conservative farming methods in the face of the Elnino-induced drought.
“We have just witnessed part of the crop where the Pfumvudza farming was practiced. You can tell that the crop there is showing signs of life. We urge our farmers to work closely with their extension officers,” ARDAS’ Gokwe North District Extension Officer Mr Simon Gumindega stated.
“It is encouraging to note that the call by government for farmers to take farming as a business is being taken seriously. We are witnessing unprecedented improvements in the quality of yield on the crops of late. I just want to encourage our farmers to continue practicing good agronomic practices as guided by their extension officers,” Valley Seeds’ Commercial Director Mr Tichaona Maponga added.
Zimbabwe is poised for a good harvest this summer cropping season, with experts anticipating close to three million metric tonnes of cereals, leaving a surplus of around one comma two million tonnes, riding on robust measures adopted by the Second Republic to revive the agriculture sector.
