Staff Reporter
Farmers in Shurugwi have been encouraged to embrace farming as a serious business venture in order to improve their livelihoods and contribute to economic growth.
The call was made during the Shurugwi South Garden Competition held at Chachacha Business Centre recently.
Speaking at the event, Member of Parliament (MP) Wilson Mhuri emphasised the importance of agricultural entrepreneurship in enhancing food security.
"I want to thank and encourage farmers to transform farming into a business in order to generate vast income. Money comes from the soil, and our farm products should not rot in our houses; you must sell, get income, and create employment opportunities,” said Mhuri.
Zanu PF Shurugwi District Coordinating Committee (DCC) chairperson Shepherd Mudhara highlighted that the event contributed to the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) goal of creating a prosperous and empowered society by 2030, particularly through the pillar of food security.
“This event aligns with NDS1, which seeks to create a prosperous and empowered upper-middle-income society by 2030. One of the key pillars is food security, which aims to improve food availability, access, and utilization. I would like to thank the MP for organising this competition in Shurugwi. They should continue in the following years, as this unites the people of Shurugwi South,” said Mudhara.
Mhangami Nutrition Garden Chairperson, Sifikile Sibanda, expressed her excitement over the farmers’ performance and persistence in farming despite water challenges.
"I am very thrilled with our colleagues’ sacrifice and commitment, which brought success. We have water shortages as our major obstacle. We are running our farming project without a borehole, and our main source of water was an open well, which has run dry due to severe drought. But we are making it work,” said Sibanda.
The garden’s success was attributed to the dedication and hard work of its members, as well as the guidance of agricultural extension officers, who provided valuable advice on crop rotation and soil conservation.
Mhangami Nutrition Garden received, 8 kg of various seeds from the Agricultural Rural Development Authority (ARDA), a solarised borehole, and a toilet to improve sanitation.
Other gardens, including Rudo, Rimaugute, and Limukani, which took second, third, and fourth positions, respectively, also received seed prizes.
The competition underscored the potential of agriculture to drive economic development in Shurugwi, with farmers being urged to adopt modern farming practices and approach agriculture as a business.
Through such initiatives, local farmers can generate income, create jobs, and contribute to national food security goals.
