Online Reporter
Theseus Shambare
FOR generations, subsistence farming, which was often characterised by a cycle of planting, tending crops and hoping for a good harvest, had been the backbone of rural life.
But the rhythm of life in the countryside is changing, as a digital revolution is gradually transforming how farmers cultivate the land.
“We used to rely heavily on rainfall and traditional methods,” recalls Ms Fungai Jaji, a seasoned farmer from Lions Den in Mashonaland West province.
“If the rains failed, we faced hunger. There was little room for innovation.”
She, however, now owns a 10-hectare centre pivot, which she controls from the comfort of her home.
“I can control the speed at which the centre pivot irrigates, the amount of water, as well as when to stop it, using an application installed on my mobile phone,” she said.
Ms Jaji, like many Zimbabweans, is witnessing a paradigm shift.
Technology is no longer a distant marvel; it is empowering farmers like her to overcome the challenges of climate change and increase their yields.
Agrilytics, a pioneering company in agricultural technology, is at the forefront of this transformation.
Their innovative tools are empowering farmers with the knowledge and resources they need to thrive.
“Our goal is to equip farmers with the tools to make informed decisions and optimise their operations,” said Mr Patrick Mambo, a representative of the company.
“We believe technology can unlock the full potential of Zimbabwean agriculture.” One such tool is AgriAllocator, a farm management app that was initially developed for tobacco farmers but now caters for a wider range of crops, from blueberries to mangetout peas.
“It helps me track my costs, monitor my stock and even predict my profits. This was not possible before,” said Ms Jaji.
The collaboration between Agrilytics and the Horticultural Development Council has yielded another significant advancement.
A new app tracks the entire horticultural value chain, providing valuable data to stakeholders across the sector.
“This data-driven approach allows us to optimise the entire supply chain, from farm to market,” said Mr Mambo.
Further, Agrilytics’ Biologicals app encourages farmers to embrace eco-friendly practices, promoting the use of beneficial organisms for pest control.
“We want to ensure that our farming methods are not only productive but also sustainable for the environment,” said the former Zimbabwe under-19 cricketer, who quit the gentleman’s game for farming.
The impact of these technologies is evident. Mr Graham Impey, who is the general manager of Komani Farm just outside Harare, shares his enthusiasm: “Agrilytics is a game-changer.
It provides us with real-time information, enabling us to make informed decisions at every stage of the crop cycle. This technology is not just about increasing yields; it’s about empowering farmers to take control of their own destinies.”
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Professor Obert Jiri said embracing technology in agriculture mitigates the impact of climate change.
“In Southern Africa, Zimbabwe included, we are going to be affected or are being affected by climate change to the effect that our rainfall is forecasted to be 10 percent lower in potent distribution by 2050, 2080. Our temperatures will keep going up, on average by 2 degrees by 2050 every year,” he said.
“We need, therefore, to climate-proof and the use of climate-smart technologies is critical, particularly in agriculture, which is a sector that is easily affected by climate change.”
He said the Government’s focus on conservation agriculture and irrigation development is a key strategy to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
He also emphasised the importance of digital technologies in modernising agriculture.
“We have really looked at investing in digital technologies and we have so far provided our extension officers, who are the ground force, with the tools of trade — the hardware, the mobile tablets — that enable them to access applications,” he said.
Digital technologies, he added, are crucial for data collection, analysis and decision-making in the agriculture sector.
As Zimbabwe embraces this technological revolution, the future of agriculture looks bright.
Days of relying solely on rainfall and traditional methods are slowly fading away, and are being replaced by a new era of data-driven farming.
The scent of innovation now mingles with the aroma of the soil, promising a more prosperous and sustainable future for Zimbabwean agriculture.
