By Agriculture Reporter
Gutu South constituency is gradually being turned into a greenbelt after the area’s legislator Honourable Pupurai Togarepi moved in to assist people with solar-powered pumps to maximise production in their community gardens.
Speaking to famers during a capacity building workshop held in Gutu this week, MP Togarepi highlighted that about 95 community gardens have been established in his constituency in order to eradicate poverty in the area.
“In our thrust for Gutu South to be a greenbelt, we have established 95 gardens that are solar-powered to empower our people. President Mnangagwa is emphasizing on production and as people of Gutu we must heed the President’s call and start being productive. The 95 community gardens that are solar powered that we have established in this constituency are meant to empower people so that they could engage in agricultural activities throughout the year,” said Cde Togarepi.
According to Cde Togarepi, full exploitation of idle water bodies would spur agricultural growth in Gutu South with the net effect of aiding in the growing of Masvingo province's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Togarepi urged farmers to get good agricultural knowledge in order for them to aid in the achievement of President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 of attaining an Upper Middle Income Economy Status by 2030.
“Knowledge is power. I urge you to get good agricultural knowledge as that is enough to improve production in whatever agricultural businesses you do. There is no magic in farming except that of heeding instructions from the agricultural extension workers. If we maximize production on our farms, Gutu South can soon feed the whole of Masvingo Province,” said Honourable Togarepi.
The Gutu South legislator also revealed that as a form of empowering the local people, he has initiated the growing of garlic for local market as well as export.
He said that he had established a revolving fund that was helping the women and the youths in his constituency to start income generating projects.
President Mnangagwa's administration has been pushing for the creation of greenbelts throughout the country as part of the ongoing thrust to use idle water bodies to grow food under irrigation in order to reduce the food import bill, which is squeezing Government funds.
