Simple farmer with a big dream
HE envisions a world where agriculture and technology are seamlessly fused for the benefit of the African continent. When I asked him about his technology background, he modestly said: “John, I am just a simple farmer.”
But Simon is more than a farmer.
He is a young and innovative entrepreneur, harnessing technology to improve crop yields and reduce costs.
We are talking about Mudikani Simon Nyabadza, a pioneer in agri-tech — a field that integrates agriculture and technology to enhance productivity, sustainability and profitability in farming. Nyabadza’s passion for small-scale and rural farmers shines through his work to support their development. He sees them as the backbone of Zimbabwe’s agrarian reform.
I had the privilege of having an interview with Nyabadza, through which I learnt more about his background, vision and recent recognition at the SADC Innovation and Rural Transformation Fair in the Democratic Republic of Congo held from September 27 to 28, 2023.
Read on and be inspired by the simple farmer making waves in agri-tech.
JT (John Tseriwa): Who is Mudikani Simon Nyabadza?
MSN (Mudikani Simon Nyabadza): I was born in a family that is into agriculture. My grandfathers were into agriculture. My great-grandfather started his fellowship in the 1930s. My father is a well-respected figure in the agriculture sector. He started a traditional grains contracting company — Reapers (Pvt) Ltd — 26 years ago. We went to school off the back of groundnuts. My siblings and I are a testament to the “muvhu mune mari” mantra, which loosely translates to “There is money in agriculture”.
I studied at St John’s Prep and College, then went to Melbourne, Australia, to pursue Economics and Finance. I returned after graduating and worked with my father as a business development manager for 11 years. I enjoy being out in the field and not stuck behind a desk in an office. I am a free spirit.
JT: How long is your background in agriculture?
MSN: My whole life. Our family has also been into citrus (oranges, clementines and lemons), cropping, seed multiplication, livestock, et cetera.
I did white button mushroom when I got back from university. I spent the first three years on the farm in Manicaland.
JT: Tell us more about your Government-initiated trip to Kinshasa.
MSN: I am very grateful to the Government — through the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development.
Special mention goes to the offices of the deputy minister, permanent secretary and the youth desk for facilitating the opportunity to go to Kinshasa, DRC, and represent our beautiful nation. It was indeed an honour. And then getting to meet my fellow innovators Zororo Taruvinga (food processing and value addition entrepreneur), Portia Maposa (castor beans value chain pioneer), Nicholas Mudzungwa (social/rural development, entrepreneurship and value addition) and Innocent Greats (software development and ICT, as well as agri-business). They are all doing fantastic work. I was humbled to be with them. Friends for life!
JT: From studying Economics and Finance, how did you end up here?
MSN: I always wanted my own things. My uncles are all entrepreneurs. With God’s grace, I identified an opportunity in the agriculture sector. During my time with Reapers, I saw a gap between smallholder farmers and financial institutions regarding perceived risk. I also saw the need for an efficient flow of information in the agriculture sector between stakeholders in the value chain. JT: Tell us more about iFarm. MSN: It is a means to potentially change people’s lives and livelihoods, with God’s grace, by changing the mindset from subsistence to commercial. Our initiative focuses on the less-privileged, our relatives and, economically speaking, the potential middle class, the backbone of any robust economy.
◆ iFarm Zimbabwe identifies ICT (information and communications technology) and tech that are practical and locally applicable for agriculture and rural development — remote sensing for climate change and risk mitigation. The vision is to install automatic weather stations, which are solar-powered and have SIM cards, at ward level all over Zimbabwe and the SADC region to capture climatic conditions (temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind speed, wind direction and solar radiation) on an hourly basis 24/7 remotely. This will allow us to create a database or agri-index based on empirical data. In other words, it means when a farmer approaches a bank or insurance company (financial institution), the first question is “Where are you farming?” and their answer will speak to which crops/vegetables/livestock the institution will be willing to provide credit/ capital for — based on accurate information (empirical data).
The technology also allows for early warning systems for diseases, adverse weather conditions like hail, optimal irrigation scheduling and much more, thus creating savings and minimising losses.
◆ It also allows for digital soil analysis, digitally profiling the soil and metagenomics (DNA). We can redo the soil maps, the agri-ecological regions (Regions 1 to 5), digitally and precisely.
We will then
(a) appreciate which areas are most conducive for which crops and to what extent.
(b) understand how our soils naturally provide nutrients to wild trees and vegetation (flora).
◆ ICT for storage and logistics (coming soon) — utilising practical technologies that will allow farmers to refrigerate and transport perishables with minimal electricity/solar power, thus opening possibilities for lucrative crops to be grown for export by smallholder farmers. JT: What is the biggest challenge facing agri-tech? MSN: Human nature — inertia; resistance to change. Even when we all got WhatsApp, it took us time to appreciate its value. The sad part is that there is climate change. We need to be pre-emptive.
It speaks to our ability to harness our competitive advantage and safeguard food security. We need data yesterday, so we can plan, strategise and help our fellow Africans. JT: Any advice for someone who wants to venture into agri-tech? MSN: Well, I don’t know much. I am just a simple farmer. My parting words are to always put God first in every aspect of your life, and everything else will fall into place in His time. Remember to always opt for the road less travelled, and delayed gratification.
John Tseriwa is a tech entrepreneur and a digital transformation advocate focusing on delivering business solutions powered by Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies. He can be contacted at: info@johntseriwa.com or +263773289802