By Decide Nhendo
For years sugarcane farming in Chiredzi and the Lowveld was mainly dominated by war veterans and other well-connected people especially those aligned to the ruling party but of late youths have penetrated the farming industry with some making it to compete with well-established farmers.
Some youths in Chiredzi have joined the industry and urged their peers not to wait until they get their land as they can do joint ventures with those who already have land and start farming while applying and waiting for their land.
Speaking to TellZim News, one such youth Taenzana Mupambiki said it was possible for youths to make it in the cash crop farming and urged other youths with passion to consider getting plots and start farming.
He said though it was not easy to get land, passionate youths can partner with other established farmers to raise more capital whilst facilitating processes for them to get their land.
“Youths do not need to wait to get their own land, they can start by doing joint ventures with those who own land and start production. There are some with land but do not have capital so they can join hands and start production while they wait to get their pieces of land.
“I was a truck driver in 2016, and it was difficult to get land at that time, so I partnered with other farmers in Mkwasine. In 2017 I applied for my own from the Ministry of Lands until I got one in 2021,” said Mupambiki.
He said that year he managed to prepare 10ha of virgin land which gave him 2000 tons of cane and invested back the money to clear 20 more hectares to make them 30 and is expecting 4500 tons.
“I have been applying for land at the Ministry of Lands offices in Masvingo for many years, and in 2021 I when I was given an offer letter for a 50-hectare farm in Hippo Valley. I went on to clear and plant sugar cane on 10 hectares producing around 2000 tons of cane.
“After harvesting, I cleared land and added cane on another 20 hectares, to make all land under cane 30 hectares, and from this land I am targeting around 4500 tons of cane,” said Mupambiki.
Mupambiki said several youths in Chiredzi were adopting agriculture as a business and for nation-building since it was creating employment and bettering people’s lives.
“Youths have here adopted the idea of agriculture and are making a difference. We can create jobs and employ several other youths who will be occupied every time meaning they will not be vulnerable to drugs,” said Mupambiki.
Another thriving youth Roy Tsvakwi who owns an 80-hectare farm said it was prudent for youths with small capital to start renting plots and do farming while they apply for their own.
“You don’t have to own land to be a farmer you can also start by renting or partnership whilst you apply for yours. That’s an advantage because when you get your own land you would have raised capital to develop,” said Tsvakwi.
Tsvakwi said he rented 30 hectares and when he got his land he had enough money to clear and start production on his own farm.
“I managed to bush clear my land using the funds that I got from a combined 30 hectares from two joint ventures,” said Tsvakwi.
