MARONDERA-SVOSVE - Communal farmers here who traditionally survived on subsistence farming have diversified into commercial chilli farming. (Pictured: Growing chillies has become a lucrative farming venture)
The highly lucrative venture was introduced to the area by a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Good Agriculture, and has a local commercial farmer, Helen Lock of Gwai Farm as moderator. Participating newly resettled and communal farmers revealed their appreciation towards the project to the Zimbabwean.
Before chilli growing was introduced to us we used to major mainly on subsistence farming. Our produce could hardly last until the next harvest. This left us at the mercy of starvation and we struggled to meet other basic needs such as school and medical fees.
Our children were regularly sent out of school due to failure to raise school fees. Despite living in the vicinity of clinics, most villagers resorted to traditional and unsafe medical facilities as we struggled to meet clinic expenses. We struggled to
make ends meet. With Chilli farming we have since started reaping fruits from productive commercial farming. We owe our success to Good Agriculture and our local facilitator, Helen.
Good Agriculture provided mentor and technical skills to one of Locks farm supervisors. He would in turn impart the skills to participating farmers around farms and villages. We are told the organisation would distribute inputs such as seed, fertilizer and pesticides to participating farmers through Lock. Lock would shoulder the highly complex seed nursing at her farm nurseries and distribute the crop to farmers for planting. Her farm supervisor would regularly go around the farming community imparting skills and monitoring progress regarding good farming methods. The project is worthwhile. Chilli farming is less demanding compared to other cash crops such as tobacco.
It takes some three months before the crop is harvested. A farmer can realize US$1 from a single plant. On average farmers grow 2 000 plants on a quarter of an acre. One would thus earn US$2 000 from a small field of a crop in less than three months. On average, a farmer would earn US$30 per day as he can harvest 60kg of ripe chilli crop every eight working hours a day. With adequate fertilizer and good rains the crop would continue bearing more chilli raising the farmer
income, said Clement Muzunze, a farmer at village 12.
The crop sells at an average of US$0.50 per kilogram. This makes it one of the most paying farming ventures among poorly equipped newly resettled and communal farmers. Chilli is neither cash nor labour intensive and can be easily managed at a family level. A similar project under organic farming system was launched in the Dhirihori area some two years ago. Participating farmers have made significant strides towards improving their economic status.
Post published in: News