The ManicaPost
Albert Tsindi
For long, the government has been trying to help farmers to establish in the agriculture industry. Its effort has been through input distribution all through the past years. Several farmers have benefited from such initiatives.
In any business, if any entity receives support in form of inputs or finance, it is assumed that with time it should support itself perpetually. It is the same assumption upon which all support schemes launched by the government are based on.
Contrary to the assumption, most small holder farmers have received inputs for several years but failed to take off. It has become a norm for farmers to receive inputs year after year without reasonable production to support future farming activities.
Where are we going then, if we are to achieve food security within the country?
What is the future of our own farmers if we continue looking up to authorities for support year in, year out?
The future of the country in terms of food is in the hands of these small holder farmers.
Small holder farmers should shun the dependency syndrome. They should learn to do farming professionally.
The issue of converting inputs for other uses not intended should stop.
All inputs received should be channeled for the right use. The inputs may be little but if used well they can take a farmer from one level to another. Another thing of importance is reinvestment into the business.
It is of utmost importance to the farmer to understand that profits cannot be enjoyed from just one season but in the long term.
Therefore, farmers should learn to reinvest the profits back into the business to for it to grow. In the long run farmers would not wait for support every season.
This will take away the dependency syndrome.
Also farmers should learn how to cultivate crops through experience.
They say the best teacher is experience.
If one is not good at growing a crop, it is expected that after one or two seasons he/she will be a master of that crop.
One might fail in one season but it is important for him/her to try again and correct the mistake of the previous season.
Observation is crucial for such critiquing.
Therefore one should take note of all processes involved and be willing to learn, unlearn and relearn.
With this, dependency syndrome will be a thing of the past among our farmers whom we expect to restore our image of being the bread basket of Africa.
If all farmers embrace good practices, surely everyone will produce enough to sustain all activities.
Shun the dependency syndrome and grow Zimbabwe.
