By Violet Mashonga
In a remarkable display of agricultural prowess, Sanyati District recently played host to a significant event at the ARDA estate, where Provincial Director Medalina Magwenzi toured the wheat farm and handed over tricycles to extension officers and supervisors.
The day concluded with a visit to the Chousvinu Dam nutrition garden, where Chief Director Lenard Munamati of ARDAS was the guest of honor.
Manager Osborne Sheldon provided insights into the estate’s operations, highlighting its impressive statistics: 703 hectares of irrigable land, 400 hectares of dry land, 403 hectares under pivot irrigation, and 195 hectares dedicated to wheat production.
The estate also has 20 hectares allocated for tomatoes and plans to plant 20 hectares of beans. With an expected wheat yield of 4 tons per hectare, the estate is poised for a bountiful harvest.
However, Sheldon noted that the estate faces challenges, including dilapidated equipment that may delay wheat planting and water scarcity due to shared water sources with gold miners.
Despite these hurdles, the estate is grateful for the progress made so far and appreciates the partnership with ZPCS, which provides inmate labor to ease the workload.
Medalina Magwenzi expressed her delight with the estate’s production, emphasizing that ARDA is not alone in its journey. She praised the estate’s transformation from a non-functional farm to a thriving agricultural hub, surpassing national targets. Magwenzi encouraged the team to work together to achieve even greater heights and commended Manager Sheldon’s leadership.
The Provincial Director also handed over eight tricycles to extension officers and supervisors, highlighting the importance of collaboration between GMB and VET in the district. These tricycles will facilitate the officers’ work, enabling them to transport inputs efficiently.
The field day at Chousvinu Nutrition Garden in Nyimo village showcased the village farmers’ remarkable work. Chief Director Lenard Munamati was impressed by the block system used by the farmers, which enables them to track individual progress and sell produce collectively.
Munamati praised the farmers for utilizing the Presidential horticulture scheme’s vegetable combo seeds and declared the garden a Village Business Unit, complete with the necessary resources.
To address the water challenge, Munamati donated a borehole to the garden and another to Neuso Primary School. He commended the Provincial Director’s efforts in surpassing wheat targets in Mashonaland West and expressed his enthusiasm for the project’s potential to bring development and prosperity to the area.
As Sanyati District continues to excel in agriculture, the future looks promising. With the support of ARDA, Agritex, and other stakeholders, the district is poised to achieve even greater success. The transformation of Chousvinu Nutrition Garden into a Village Business Unit is a testament to the government’s vision of empowering farmers and promoting economic growth.
In the words of Chief Director Munamati, “This is an opportunity to do your business properly and keep all the records written down.”
With dedication and hard work, Sanyati District is sure to reap the rewards of its agricultural endeavors.
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