HARARE - Professional government agriculture extension workers are a frustrated lot. (Pictured: Due to interference by politicians, river across Zimbabwe have run dry)
Their childhood dream to be identified with a blooming agriculture-based Zimbabwean economy was shattered by the chaotic Zanu (PF) land reform programme. Thirty five-year-old Tecla Milanzi is one such bitter government rural agriculture extension worker. As she grew up in rural Chipinge, she would admire local land development officers, ridding on motor-bikes around villages advising farmers on best farming methods.
I was born in a farming family in Chief Mahenye area, Chipinge. Knowledge imparted by rural agriculture extension workers to farming communities in my home area inspired me into becoming a farming advisor. After completing primary and secondary school, I enrolled with Kushinga Phikelela Agriculture Institute for a certificate in agriculture in 1993. On completion of the one year programme, I proceeded for diploma level tuition at Chibero College.
Greedy politicians
I later became an agriculture subject teacher at Nyazema Secondary School, before joining Ministry of Agriculture as an agriculture extension worker under the Agriculture Rural Extension Services, AREX. Little did I know my area of specialty would be muddled by greedy and short sighted politicians. Land invasions of early 2000 started six months after I had joined AREX. Our roles were systematically transferred to partisan traditional leadership and war veterans, resulting in tested farming methods compromised.
Our advice that people should not farm on land less than 100 meters from river banks, was ignored by new farmers. Politicians said such regulations were a product of white farmers keen to cut land available for farming by blacks. As a result, many rivers ran dry. We could not help but watch agriculture being driven underground by unskilled politicians. As experts, we wanted to teach all communal farmers about recommended farming methods. Unfortunately, politicians selected farmers whom we would give more attention at the expense of suspected MDC households.
Fair distribution of farm inputs became a challenge as the system was politicized. AREX officials as farming experts on the ground were supposed to distribute inputs according requirements of individual farmers type of soil and hectarage. Directives came from top Zanu (PF) officials on how to distribute the inputs. We were turned into spectators in the whole process. Our expertise was insulted.
War veterans and other politicians ignored advice that grass should be ploughed into the ground during winter plough. Instead, it was put on fire as a quick method of clearing land. Trees were cut indiscriminately resulting in massive land degradation. We could not help but watch helplessly while fertile land went to waste.
No inputs for MDC
We were instructed to nominate Zanu (PF) officials as master farmers so that they would benefit from inputs and loans reserved for progressive farmers. Traditional leadership such as Chiefs and Headmen, were automatically classified as suitable candidates to benefit from the master farmers input scheme. For the majority of farmers mainly regarded as MDC, no inputs were forthcoming. This compromised our roles as apolitical farming experts. Most partisan beneficiaries of the inputs were incapable farmers who resorted to selling off received inputs and channelling proceeds to non farming activities. Unfortunately, our hands were tied and forced to distribute inputs yearly to the same unscrupulous farmers. This contributed heavily towards poor harvests in the country.
Discriminated farmers rely on organic fertilizer as genetically modified inputs were reserved for Zanu (PF) supporters. This left extension workers in a dilemma and incapable of discharging duties to expectations. As foreigners in areas of deployment, AREX officers were not allocated land under the agrarian programme. We rent pieces of land from locals to grow crops and supplement our meagre salaries.
Since joining AREX, I have never had an opportunity to practice and impart my skills to deserving recipients. Seventeen years in the field of my desire, I am yet to live my dream of making a difference in farming. I am frustrated and my spirit is almost broken.
Hopefully, a new constitution will be the final curve towards normalcy in the countrys politics and economy. Sooner or later, I might have an opportunity to at least fulfil my childhood dream and ride on a government issued motor-bike, sharing acquired skills with poor farmers. Thousands of agriculture extension workers dotted across the country share Milanzis situation. Political interference tied their hands making them a frustrated lot yet to freely live life time dreams.
Post published in: News