Tobacco farmer breaks new ground
JOB creation is among key pledges made by the new administration, as part of efforts to transform the economy in which 80 percent of the employable population does not have formal jobs.
In an effort to create own jobs and as well as bring change to the agricultural sector, Mr Pardon Mhuri (35) last week launched a US$200 000 tobacco seedling-growing programme in Karoi.
Mr Mhuri has been passionate about farming since childhood as his grandparents were award-winning farmers. His farming project now carries the hopes of the whole province.
“My grandparents were award-winning farmers who won national prizes throughout the 80s and 90s in groundnut, maize and dairy farming. This is where my passion comes from. It is something my grandparents instilled in me from a tender age.”
This entrepreneur does not believe in putting all his eggs in one basket, but values the power of diversification. He has since ventured into mining and transport.
“In this challenging economy, I believe diversification of interests and multiplication of streams of revenue are imperative strategies for sustainability of businesses,” he said.
Mr Mhuri’s farming projects, centred on tobacco farming, have brought him joy and exhibit the potential to further transform the communities in Mashonaland West.
“The farming project specialises in tobacco,, particularly seedling growing, but we run a diversified farming portfolio including horticultural produce such as peas, carrots, tomatoes, cabbages and onions.
“As it stands, we are in the process of harvesting our onion and cabbage for the local market.”
Currently, his tobacco project is made up of eight hectares of seedlings, enough to cover 1 000 hectares. He said the seedlings are sufficient to meet the needs of the bulk of the small-scale and commercial farmers in Mashonaland West Province.
“At present, the seedlings are in the process of being hardened and as soon as the first rains fall, farmers will begin collecting their seedlings for planting,” he said.
Mr Mhuri has plans to extend the nursery hectarage in his home province such that by 2020 it will produce seedlings to cover at least 2 500 hectares.
The plans also entail extending the nursery business to other tobacco growing provinces like Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, parts of Midlands and Manicaland.
As part of ensuring environmental sustainability, Mr Mhuri considers implementing various strategies to promote afforestation alongside the thriving tobacco seedling scheme.
“As part of our efforts to promote afforestation, we offer 400 plants of gum trees for free for every hectare of seedlings that is bought from us and we follow up to ensure that the trees are planted. We encourage farmers who have large farms to use coal to cure their tobacco instead of firewood so that we control the rate of deforestation,” said Mr Mhuri.
Speaking at the launch of the tobacco scheme, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Mashonaland West, Mary Mliswa-Chikoka, called on the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) to consider establishing auction floors to enable local farmers to sell tobacco in their provinces.
She said participating in auction facilities in tobacco producing areas will ensure that farmers have easy access to all tobacco selling points, which will also help reduce costs for farmers, especially the small ones.
“I want to challenge the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board to consider adequately resourcing the auction floors here in Mashonaland West so that our farmers won’t have to travel all the way to Harare to sell their crop.
“Government has already leaned towards devolution and it is important that the private sector also follow suit as we all work towards achieving the Zimbabwe we all want.”
Minister Mliswa-Chikoka commended Mr Mhuri for launching the tobacco seedling project which will boost the growth of the tobacco industry.
“Tobacco remains the country’s largest export crop which contributes significantly to our Gross Domestic Product and foreign currency earnings and, as such, Government takes great importance of this sector and welcomes young entrepreneurs such as Mhuri Farming, who are taking the lead in reviving our tobacco sector through such schemes. My desire is to wake up to a day when the hardworking tobacco farmers are rewarded handsomely for their hard work,” she said.
According to the Zimbabwe Tobacco Association (ZTA), the crop accounts for 15 percent of the country’s GDP and 25 percent of total exports.
Over 95 percent of the country’s tobacco consists of flue-cured tobacco, which is renowned for its good flavour.
Mr Mhuri appreciates his efforts as a young farmer being recognised by the industry as a whole.
“One always needs validation when you are doing something worthwhile. It has given me the drive to push even further and strengthened my ambition to make a worthwhile contribution in the tobacco sector,” Mr Mhuri said.
He urges other young farmers to tap into job creation opportunities.
“My advice to upcoming farmers is that they need to persevere. Farming is not for the faint-hearted. It requires hard work, planning, patience. Shortcuts don’t work in agriculture.
“Good agronomic practices are key. You might not make money in the initial years but it always strengthens my ambition to make a worthwhile contribution in the tobacco sector,” said Mr Mhuri.