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Leonard Ncube, [email protected]
CDE Wisdom Bushe Neshavi, vice chairman of the Zanu-PF Hwange District Coordinating Committee, has emerged as a model farmer in Hwange, inspired by the First Family’s Pricabe Farm in Kwekwe.
Operating from Isla Farm in Lubangwe, Cde Neshavi is among a growing number of new farmers in Hwange’s prime crop farming region.
With six hectares of land, Cde Neshavi has planted three hectares of sorghum (SV2 variety) and half a hectare of SC301 maize.
He has also diversified his crops, cultivating sunflowers, African peas, groundnuts, and amakhomane. Despite challenges with weed management due to heavy rains, Cde Neshavi’s maize and sorghum crops are thriving, with projections of up to 10 tonnes of sorghum and over one tonne of maize.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Irrigation Development Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka, visited Isla Farm to assess progress, expressing satisfaction with the crop’s performance despite delayed input distribution and pest challenges.
Cde Neshavi attributes his success to inspiration from Pricabe Farm.
“We heard about Pricabe Farm in Kwekwe, and as I researched its success story, I discovered it belongs to His Excellency, President Mnangagwa. I decided to emulate that and create a mini-Pricabe Farm here in Hwange District,” he said.
“This is exactly what we are trying to achieve. We want to make our district and province food secure,” he added.
Cde Neshavi employs climate-proofed conservation farming methods but faces challenges like wildlife intrusion and pests.
To address these, he uses preventive measures like chilli and firecrackers (pending police approval) to deter elephants and sprays his crops to manage pests.
“Our biggest challenge is that inputs, especially seeds, arrived late. We ended up buying seeds from the open market. Despite this, I’m expecting 10 tonnes of sorghum and more than a tonne of maize,” Cde Neshavi said.
Cde Neshavi envisions a brighter future for his farm.
“My goal for next year is to have a flourishing crop and host a larger field day. We appeal to authorities to ensure timely distribution of inputs once the President launches the programme,” he said.
Chief Whange expressed optimism about the district’s agricultural prospects.
“The whole district is set for a bumper harvest. Only lazy people will fail to harvest anything this year because of the incessant rains,” he said.
The mini-field day at Isla Farm attracted scores of attendees, further cementing Cde Neshavi’s status as a model farmer in the district. — @ncubeleon
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