The company closed shop recently citing viability problems and stiff competition from cheap imports. The company used to specialise in canning of fresh farm produce for the local and export market.
A survey carried out by this paper indicated that most scale horticulture farmers who used to supplying the company were languishing in abject poverty. Many of their irrigation schemes had collapsed. Others had their water and electricity cut by Zimbabwe National Water Authority and Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority.
Nyanyadzi irrigation scheme, which used to be an envy of many in the province, is a shadow of its former self. Hundreds of families used to earn a living from the scheme but today it lies in a sorry state.
“When Cairns closed shop we were left with no market for our produce and we could not raise enough income to sustain our operations. We could not pay electricity and water because the tariffs were too high,” said Mavis Taguta (34).
Another farmer said most of his counterparts had turned to gold panning and brick moulding to eke a decent living.
Vice President Joice Mujuru recently toured the Nyanyadzi irrigation scheme with other government ministers and bemoaned its current state. She castigated politicians for spending time politicking instead of improving the lives of poor villagers.
Post published in: Agriculture