Drip irrigation for increased productivity

Buhle Nkomo

   

“I am impressed with drip irrigation technology because it means growing more for less. It is economic, it saves water and fertilizer involving less labor while attracting good yields.” Said Shepard Goremusandu (49), a small scale tobacco farmer from Karoi in Mashonaland West Province.

Goremusandu is one of the tobacco farmers who obtained drip irrigation from TIMB in 2015. 

The farmer said that drip irrigation is the most efficient technology due to its controlled delivery of water directly to plants promoting uniformity amongst the crops while enhancing good yields as each crop get the equal amount of water.

 As a result the grower said the facility made a notable difference in his production history.

“Prior to drip irrigation, my crops were rain fed, I was not happy with my produce as my harvest would range from 2500 to 3000 kgs per hectare. 

Having a borehole as my source of water, I then installed the drip irrigation facility.

I obtained 4000 kg from a hectare and quality yields with prices ranging from $5.20 highest price while lowest being $ 2.10.

Goremusandu said that the scheme has not only encouraged good tobacco yields but also has increased his productivity as he is now using the same technology as a water supplement for horticulture purposes.

“Since drip irrigation is providing a reliable water supply throughout the year, I have planted a hectare of potatoes, cucumbers and tomatoes in which I already secured the  market  for which include the local canteens, boarding schools and local people” he said.

He added: This has given me giant steps because my productivity as a farmer since my productivity has been increased. I want to increase my drip to a 5 hectare facility with tank reservoirs from my returns as part of my future plans”

Goremusandu explained that one of the drip irrigation advantages is that it encourages farmer to start early ploughing which is considered as part of good agronomic practices for increased yields.

“The seedbeds are underway which suggest the facility has allowed me to start the season very early which is good for quality yields because early ploughing is a way of trapping and conserving the moisture” he explained.

The grower said that apart from tobacco production he also does poultry production for more income and other crops as a way of crop rotation.

“I am also keeping broilers, harvesting at least 200 birds a week and my main market is a local butchery. Apart from tobacco farming I also grow maize, soya beans and sugar beans for more income and facilitating crop rotation” he said

The grower explained that apart from having water source, farmers should also consider careful planning and investing in their curing facilities as these are critical for improved yields as quality determines the price.

“Planning, scheduling, upgrading my curing and irrigation facilities has improved my farming.  Tobacco farming is the reason I drilled a borehole and installed drip irrigation. 

I have purchased my inputs for the next season, hired permanent workers and invested in cattle.” He said.

The drip irrigation is still on offer at TIMB and the following are required:

-The grower should have a production history which is attained from the TIMB system.

- He or she must be near the water source not more than 500 meters from the source. 

- An application letter can be collected from the nearest TIMB regional office in which upon submission of it, it should be attached with certified copies of the national I.D, photocopy of the offer letter and recommendation from the Agritex officer or the contractor.

For additional Information contact
TIMB on telephone numbers 08677004624/6 or 0772145166/9 or 0279-22082/21982 or 025-3439 or 067-24268/29246 or 0277-2700 or 064-7280 or 0271-6772 or Toll Free Numbers 08006003 / 0731999999 / 0712832804 or WhatsApp 0731999999 or E-mail: info@timb.co.zw

'It all began as a leap of faith'

Buhle Nkomo

“Farming has made me a provider to my family and a business woman in the community. Tobacco is where the money is,” said Tapuwa Goto (27), a tobacco grower from Mt Darwin in Mashonaland Central province.
Goto’s mother died soon after her 21st birthday following a short illness.

“At such a tender, I became responsible for my young sister’s upkeep since our mother was a single parent.

“It was a painful experience. I took over charge of my mother’s fields in a bid to fend for ourselves despite not having adequate knowledge on farming. It was a leap of faith. Our circumstances had changed my dream, I could not continue with studies,” she said.

She said her mother occasionally encouraged them to participate in the fields and also imparted good agronomic practices to her and her sibling.

“If I had known better, I would have learnt more. “

“Tobacco has sustained us thus far. I have been able to send my sister through good schools”

“The profits from tobacco farming has enabled me to venture into horticulture farming, something which is giving me extra income.

“I bought a truck that I use to ferry produce to Harare among other farm operations. I also installed a borehole for horticulture purposes.”  She said with a smile.

Goto said she has been gaining experience over the years and her farming has become a tool of emancipation from poverty.

“I have seen changes from the first season I started farming on my own. I have leant from my mistakes over different seasons. From the four hectares I am able to fend for my sister and I. When my mother passed on, I never imagined one day I would own a truck and able to adequately fend for myself.

She added: “I have also seen changes in terms of my produce as my highest prices over the years used to be less than five dollars but this season I got $5.10 and I see this as an improvement that is worth to be celebrated.

“With tobacco you have to keep learning as well as desist from taking short cuts. As it is, I have bought all of my fertilizers because I to avert a scenario where we want fertilizers and it is not available on the market. Planning is a critical success factor in farming.”

She said tobacco farmers should also have good curing facilities and adequate sources of fuel so that it does not compromise on the yield as a lot of farmers make mistakes in this area resulting in them getting poor quality and poor prices.

“Last season I was affected by leaf spot. I suspect that it was caused by not being thorough when destroying my stalks. This season I destroyed stalks early and made sure there are no re-growths,” she added.
“I want my sister to go university and study agriculture. Zimbabwe is an agriculture based economy and my sister needs to be where it is happening.        

“I sincerely desire to see more females growing tobacco. I am a member of a club where we support each other financially and share farming ideas. We collect money from members and send one of us to buy inputs in Harare. It cuts on transport costs. It also saves on time as women we are generally burdened with domestic chores. Other women can form similar clubs. “

A truck delivering tobacco bales to Premier Auction floor.

This season farmers have so far benefitted over $450 million from the sale of 156 million kilograms of flue cured Virginia tobacco at an average price of $2, 91. Preparation for the 2018 season have also started with registration of farmers being underway.

Tobacco seed that has been sold so far covers 77 000 hectares which is double what had been sold by the same time last year. Establishment of seedbeds commenced on the first of June.
Tobacco farmers are reminded that stalks and re-growths should have been destroyed by the 15^th of May and it is a crime for stalks to be found in one’s field as they are hosts for diseases that compromise quality and yield in the forthcoming season.

For additional Information contact
TIMB on telephone numbers 08677004624/6 or 0772145166/9 or 0279-22082/21982 or 025-3439 or 067-24268/29246 or 0277-2700 or 064-7280 or 0271-6772 or Toll Free
Numbers 08006003 / 0731999999 / 0712832804

Or E-mail: info@timb.co.zw

More women registered tobacco farmers

Buhle Nkomo

There is a 57 percent increase in the number of women who sold tobacco this marketing season as compared to the 2016 tobacco marketing season.

At least  11 000 women sold their tobacco this season compared to 7 000 last season.

Ephiphania Chigora (25) a female tobacco grower from Zvimba in Mashonaland West Province said she ventured into tobacco production after she saw how lucrative it had been for her late father-in law.

“My father in-law was a hard working tobacco grower. He inspired me to start growing the crop. I started small and stayed on course. Keeping on track requires a lot of resilience.

“I started off with half a hectare since it was an experiment. Like many experimentations, it did not come out as we would have wanted, nonetheless we drew important lessons from the experience.

With an appetite for growth , Chigora used her experience  in the previous season to improve her farming. 

I tried a hectare. We were encouraged by the prices we attained at the selling floors.

“This is my fifth season and I am proud to say I have managed to buy a Massey Ferguson MF 390 tractor and a car from tobacco production.

“The tractor has become another source of income as it gets hired by neighbors who do not have enough equipment for ploughing.

“From the few years that I have been a tobacco grower, I can confidently say tobacco farming is profitable.

“I have never been formally employed and farming has contributed immensely to the well-being of my family. I have also invested proceeds from tobacco sells in livestock production.

“This season I planted two hectares of tobacco and I am expecting about 9500 kilograms of good quality tobacco.

Chigora expressed concerns over climate change and the associated changing weather patterns as one of the major challenges she is currently seized with faced in her farming venture.

“This season we experienced heavy rains which ended up compromising on the quantity of our crop whilst last season the rains delayed. This means that heavy rains and drought are largely affecting our production.

To avert the challenges associated with poor rainfall, I purchased and installed an irrigation kit to help sustain the tobacco production project.

“I am less and less relying on the rains and am increasing on the irrigated crop.

Another challenge I am seized with is we usually buy coal from Harare, which is quite far. I wish the coal supplies were readily available in small towns and at and growth points

In 2016, 27 percent of registered tobacco farmers were females.

Chigora urged other women to take the leap of faith and try their hand in tobacco production as they can always bank on calendar based TIMB workshops conducted in conjunction with AGRITEX for good agronomic practices as well as TRB trainings held at Kutsaga Research Station.

She said that the knowledge acquired has contributed so much to her good returns and has led to her personal growth as a farmer.

After 45 days of the 2017 tobacco marketing season, farmers had benefitted $370 million dollars compared after the sale of 130million kgs.

The average price on the auction is $2.87, two cents higher than the contract sales average price.

Bale rejection is also three percent lower than after the same period last season.

For additional Information contact
TIMB on telephone numbers 08677004624/6 or 0772145166/9 or 0279-22082/21982 or 025-3439 or 067-24268/29246 or 0277-2700 or 064-7280 or 0271-6772 or Toll Free Numbers 08006003 / 0731999999 / 0712832804 or WhatsApp 0731999999 or E-mail: info@timb.co.zw