By Tadiwa Jery
Like any other industry, agriculture is sustained by profitability. With this in mind, setting up a viable operational plan that will guide the farmer professionally through every farming season is imperative.
Over the past years, several institutions have taken up the task of guiding farmers for the purpose of increasing their yields. These include, The Farming Experts, Garlic, Ginger and Tumeric Growers Association of Zimbabwe and Life Brand Agric Services in Zimbabwe.
However, some institutions have misguided farmers, affecting the journey of attaining agricultural professionalism. In an interview with AlphaVisionZim, a farmer who was contracted with the Life Brand Agric Services in Zimbabwe made it clear on how disappointed they were with the inaccuracy in facts they received. “The yield was not as high as they claimed it will be, I followed every single step they told me, but it still did not pan out as they had assured me.”
Production and operational bottlenecks are also hindering professionalism in Zimbabwean agriculture. After harvesting, some farmers are left with excess produce they do not know how to sell. Most end up setting tables in the streets through vendors. Lack of security is also another matter and farmers in areas like Dunstan, Mash East have raised this issue after an increase in cases of stolen cattle by people who live in the residential areas nearby is rampant.
With the government aiming for a US$8,2 billion agriculture sector by 2025 and the President saying that Zimbabwe would soon be Africa’s breadbasket once again, production and operational challenges also need to be addressed the same way financial challenges are being addressed.
As reported by the Sunday mail in April 2021, the government mentioned that strategies such as strengthening the use of Public-Private Sector Partnerships, promoting weather-based agriculture, linking farmers with research and providing agriculture and simplified business education will naturally improve farmers production and operational processes.
Implementing policies that encourage the adoption of digital and modern agriculture production, and marketing technologies has also been identified as solutions to turn farmers into experts in their industries in modern times.
