As Young Farmers Take Zimbabwe
Hello dear reader. I am back! After taking a break to recuperate mentally and emotionally, my fingers feel excited to be typing yet another story from Zimbabwe to share with you.
One of the things that I mentioned in my previous stories that excites me the most being back in Zimbabwe is learning about young farmers. Farming here has historically been done for subsistence or as part time work by a lot of the black locals who venture into it. It has also been regarded as something that people who have retired from their office jobs go and do so as not to get bored in their old age.
However, a number of young Zimbabweans have opted to work in passion/calling-based careers, especially with the low employment possibilities. Fortunately farming is one of those sectors where a lot of young(er) people are going into. I have had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with some young people involved in farming. One particular young man by name Amar stood out. Vibrant, vocal and cosmopolitan, I wondered what drew this young man to leave the city and go work on the land. I got to sit with him, hear his story and pick his brain over a meal. Afterwards, I asked Amar if I could share part of his story and he obliged.
Here is a short Q&A with Amar. Enjoy!
Q. Tell us about yourself, who you are and your background
A. My name is Amar Admire Matupire. I am 31 and my passion growing up has always been to do with food production. I studied Communication Sciences at Botswana University and worked in various positions before pursuing a Diploma in Agriculture at Chibhero College here in Zimbabwe.
Q. What drew you to the world of farming and what do you farm?
A. This is something my mum exposed me to at a younger age. I started rearing goats when I was 12 at our rural homestead and travelled to the rural area just to be with my goats. That was the beginning of my journey. During my childhood the maternal side of my family were farmers. From my grandmother, she taught my mum how to farm and my mum taught me. It all turned out that all my family became creators of some sort founded in food. I just chose the farming business.
Amar in his farm. Photo Credit: Paarl Farm
Q. What are some of the most important elements of your work?
A. Everything. I love my farm and everything I have worked to create here the past year and a half or so. Farming takes patience; seeing something developing from a seed and growing to sale date gives so much satisfaction. Another thing I love about my work is it I get to meet different people from all walks of life thereby learning something out of the experience. I look at it as a way of life not work and I enjoy every moment of it.
Q. Tell us about your experiences thus far - the highlights, triumphs, challenges and lessons.
A. I moved from the city July 11th 2020. There was no habitable structure whatsoever on the piece of land. It was just me and 13 bags of cement that day. I slept in a tent for 34 days whilst building a cottage that is currently home. At that time, Covid-19 had just started peaking in Zimbabwe. So many travelling restrictions… but somehow the cottage was finished in 34 days. Soon after the completion of the cottage, with the help of a neighbour, we started clearing land for a garden and planted 300 plants of tomatoes with zero experience. In the rainy season that followed, I tried Pfumvudza (a government program enabling farmers to increase their yields) and by hand did 2000 holes where I planted maize. I managed to get a tonne and half yield from the crop. The major challenge has been financial nerve to sponsor the projects. In 2021, I planted 1000 plants of tomatoes, 500 cabbages and also planted some indigenous trees. The greatest lesson is don’t stop no matter the road.
Q. Being a young farmer, what is your outlook on farming in Zimbabwe?
A. The industry can get a major boost if the farmers who are actively farming are equipped with training on value addition of the things they are currently venturing into. This may relax bank requirements for loans and money lending. By doing this the farming business will thrive and feed a lot more into the nation.
Q. What outlook do you have for the growth of your work?
A. Plans are underway to construct a greenhouse, extend the current broiler chicken structure to house more than 1000 birds and plant more indigenous trees that add value to the farming business.
Q. Given that the world climate is in a shift, what measures are you taking to sustain your work?
A. Like I mentioned earlier, we are on a drive to plant 5000 indigenous trees by 2025; do more bee hives and have a flower garden with as many complimentary species as possible. We are currently preserving lots of traditional trees as the farm is situated by the highway thereby reducing carbon emissions so they don’t affect the honey, which will be produced.
Q. What message do you have for young people in the world looking to find their path in life?
A. Find out who you are and set out a purposeful path. That’s the only way to thrive and be who you truly want to be. Wake up every morning and put wings to your dreams. Good things will eventually come over time.
Jekanyika is a writer