The ManicaPost
Freedom Mutanda
Correspondent
MIDDLE Sabi-based farmer, Mrs Naume Marufiye was last week named Manicaland’s Agric4She wheat farmer of the year.
The Agric4She programme is a brainchild of the First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, who is working hard to ensure the attainment of food security.
Last weekend saw provincial and district Agritex officers, as well as farmers, converging at Farm 7 in Middle Sabi to exchange notes on the Agric4She concept which seeks to scale up sustainable food and nutritional security, income generation, value addition and the development of agro-food business value chains in rural areas.
Mrs Marufiye planted 30 hectares of wheat and she expects a yield of four tonnes per hectare, which translates to 120 tonnes.
She hailed the Presidential Inputs Schemes for transforming farmers’ lives.
“I am indebted to President Mnangagwa for the various schemes he has rolled out to empower farmers. I am where I am today because of these schemes. I have been a widow since 2007, but I am sustaining my family through farming,” she said.
Chipinge District Agritex officer, Mr Tapiwa Chagwes was impressed by Mrs Marufiye’s determination to ensure continuity by mentoring her sons, Mr Alfred Marufiye and Anesu Marufiye.
“This event celebrates women in agriculture. What is excellent is that Mrs Marufiye is mentoring her children. Most men from this part of the country usually go to South Africa in search of greener pastures, leaving women to do the farming. We urge farmers to do their best to ensure food security in the country,’’ he said.
Mr Marufiye applauded his mother’s determination and mentorship. He also commended the unwavering support from neighbouring farmers.
“My mother told me that land is of utmost importance to the economy of Zimbabwe. I also acknowledge what my neighbours have done in our journey as farmers. We used the zero tillage farming method. We also applied herbicides to control weeds. The wheat variety we used takes three months to mature,’’ he said.
A local farmer, Mrs Catherine Chirimambowa said it is possible for women to make a difference in farming.
“I am motivated to do better because this is the right thing for the country. Our First Lady, Amai Mnangagwa, is the patron for the Agric4She programme. We have to be self-sufficient as a country. When they say musha mukadzi, they mean that a mother makes all the difference for her children, economically and socially,’’ she said.
Agritex’s Manicaland provincial acting deputy director, Mr Nomatter Manunure said the Agric4She programme is aimed at countering the importation of wheat, thereby ensuring food security.
“Each household should be nutritionally self sufficient. We are very happy with this programme. Government provides seed and fertilisers. We are encouraging farmers to complement Government’s efforts by being productive,’’ said Mr Manunure.
Chipangayi has 78 farmers and all of them are growing wheat.
“A total of 675 hectares were put under wheat in Chipangayi, which is 50 percent of Chipinge District’s wheat,’’ said Mr Manunure.
