The farmers have planted cash crops like maize and sugarcane in addition to indigenous trees like fig trees and the Mukute species. They have also introduced banana and mango plantations on the wetlands that measure about 5,000 square meters, in addition to nutritional gardens comprising tomatoes and leafy vegetables.
“It has been five years now since we started these projects. We have immensely benefited from them,” said Letty Mugumba (54), one of the project members. “Our youths are among the most disciplined because in most instances they are concentrating on the projects instead of loafing around,” added another project member Josphant Nyanyadzi (43).
Other villagers boasted about their successes saying they derived pride from the fact that the whole programme originated with them unlike others which are either initiated by donors or driven by government.
Timothy Nyoka, the Provincial Environmental Management Agency Education Officer said the efforts of the farmers in Gokwe were an example of how the country can benefit from wetlands and make them contribute to the fiscus.
“Wetlands can play many aspects like boosting food security through farming and fishing; providing medicines for the health sector; recreational activities and the people’s very survival like clean water and fresh air. These aspects can grow our economy,” said Nyoka.
Post published in: Agriculture
Congratulations to all Gokwe Farmers for not sitting on their brains. It really shows that the Gokwe People have the expertise in farming. We used to know them by their knowledge in Cotton Farming, but they have spread their knowledge by turning the wetlands into productive land.