By Rex Mphisa
BEITBRIDGE district historically known for its dependency on drought relief handouts, has thrown away its begging bowl and is self-sufficient, thanks to the new crop of farmers who mastered the copy and improve adage.
The fresh and fine produce can be seen at the Beitbridge green wholesale market popularly known as speed where local farmers now fall over each other to grab shares of the market.
The local products are quality by any standard and consumers no longer have tired looking vegetables brought in long distance buses from far and wide across Zimbabwe.
Beitbridge District agricultural expert and head of extension services Masawuso Mawocha attributed the cropping renaissance to dedication by farmers and a strong foundation base laid by some NGOs.
“Besides the farmers themselves have shown the zeal to improve and are committed. This is an important aspect of farming, the mindset is key. I will not take away the expert knowledge dispensed by our Agricultural Business Advisory Officers (formerly agritex extension officers). They are working with farmers well,” said Mawocha.
“It is correct they (local farmers) have now taken over supplies at the local green market which is encouraging, ” he said.
Farmers from Makhakhavhule, Malala, Mtetengwe, parts of Lutumba, Tshapfuche and Tshaswingo, just to name a few, were standing their ground and turning a new page in the district’s farming experiences, he said.
“But this new development is hinged mostly on the nutritional gardens by the World Vision, Red Cross and other partners which may have opened the eyes of local farmers.
Nutrition gardens are small from half a hectare to sometimes double that which farmers have expanded from,” said Mawocha.
World Vision and other NGOs initiated several Nutrition Gardens dotted around the sprawling district and these are run by elderly women while some youth clubs also take part.
“The Presidential Village Business Units are also a game changer. They have included livestock fodder on their cropping and this phenomenon will also translate to less livestock deaths. Its interesting to be part of this history in the making,” he said.
“Already we have 29 Village Business Units in operation and that is a giant step in the right agricultural direction. These are bigger and better in terms of production and accomodation of farmers,” he said.
Deputy Minister Ompile Marupi led teams of officers from his office on a tour of Beitbridge Village Business Units a fortnight back.
During the tour Marupi said the new development will cut on labour migration apart from setting the tone good for an agricultural driven upper middle class economy by year 2030.
Beitbridge, had long been dismissed as a livestock area whose soils are salty and untenable for agriculture but persistent experiments have overturned the position.
A farmer from Matshiloni said the arrival of some villagers from Masvingo who were keen on tilling the land also changed the mindset of farmers who now believe there is life from underground water.