ZCC Mbungo embarks on agric revolution

ONE of Zimbabwe’s largest religious denominations, the Zion Christian Church (ZCC), has ventured into full-scale production at its 800-hectare farm along the Masvingo-Mutare Road in response to Government’s call for all citizens to actively participate in national economic development initiatives.

The church’s leader, Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi, last week said that it was important for Zimbabweans to increase production in the agriculture sector.

He was speaking during a wheat field day held at Mr Alex Mutendi’s plot in Mbungo area where the church has planted wheat, beans and maize.

“As the Zion Christian Church (ZCC), we have responded to the call by the Government to venture into production,” said Bishop Mutendi. “In addition, we have also responded to the biblical call from Genesis 2:15 which calls for everyone to till the land to produce food.

“So far we have planted 32 hectares of wheat under irrigation. This is part of our efforts to enhance food security and national sustainability. You will be pleased to note that the church is also benefiting from the Command Agriculture programme.”

Speaking during the same event, the Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs, Cde Ezra Chadzamira, said Zimbabwe was an agro-based economy and needed everyone’s support to revive the sector.

“Zimbabweans should complement Government’s efforts to utilise the land for agriculture to ensure food security,” he said. “The ZCC has contributed a lot in terms of productivity in the tourism, construction and agriculture sectors. We encourage other churches to take a leaf from them.

“Weather experts have already announced that the country is going to receive normal to below normal rainfall and, as such, the Government through the Presidential Inputs Support Scheme is going to provide to farmers all the required inputs.”

Cde Chadzamira said irrigation schemes should fully utilise their resources to boost production.

The Minister of State in Vice President Kembo Mohadi’s office, Cde Davis Marapira, who also attended the field day, advised farmers not to sell Presidential inputs.

He also encouraged farmers to take their soils for testing so that they can apply the right methods to boost production.

“Farmers should stop the habit of selling inputs provided to them free of charge by the Government. Those who arecaught on the wrong side of the law will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” he said.

Meanwhile, small-scale dairy farmers in Mutasa have called on Government to expedite their inclusion in the Command Agriculture programme to help boost production.

Tsonzo Dairy Collection Centre chairman Mr Washington Sagonda told The Herald that farmers in the area lacked capacity to produce enough feed for their cows and this was hampering their efforts to produce milk cost effectively.

“Small-scale farmers are susceptible to shocks that happen in the market and they need to be cushioned,” he said. “The price of stockfeed is too high. We are currently buying feed at approximately $6 per kg yet we are selling our milk at between $5,85 and $7 per litre.

“This means the farmer is not left with a lot of money after production costs. If we join the Command Agriculture programme, we will be able to grow food for our livestock and minimise commercial feeds.”

Mr Sagonda said with Command Agriculture, farmers could grow enough food to sustain them throughout the year.

Tsonzo farmers are currently producing about 950 litres per day, of which 90 percent is sold to Dairibord while the remaining 10 percent is sold over the counter to locals.