Siphakeme .Mnindwa
A new wave of innovative farmers is transforming Beitbridge’s agricultural landscape, focusing on cutting-edge horticultural practices.
Although the district remains home to a substantial livestock population of approximately 200 000 cattle, 150 000 goats, 90 000 sheep, and 40 000 donkeys, the burgeoning horticulture sector is gaining momentum.
Forward-thinking farmers are adopting smart agriculture techniques, prioritising market demand, and overcoming the hurdles posed by erratic rainfall patterns.
Beitbridge requires an average of 400mm of rainfall for a successful farming season, but over the past decade, most areas have received a mere 80mm.
In response to the shortage of horticulture products, some farmers have turned to water harvesting and drip irrigation. Royal Cooper Estate, located 60km along the Beitbridge-Bulawayo road, has transformed its A2 farm into a thriving greenbelt, catering to local and regional markets.
During a recent tour of the project, Lands, Agriculture, Water, and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka, met with farm operations manager, Samuel Karonga, as part of the ongoing crop, livestock, and fisheries assessment.
Karonga shared the estate’s journey, which began in 2016, underlining their growing market share across the country.
“We have adopted a market-led production approach, whereby we produce crops and products based on market demand. This has been made possible through use of the drip irrigation model, a micro-irrigation system that conserves water and nutrients. The model allows water to drip slowly to the roots of plants, either from above the soil surface or buried below the surface,” said Karonga.
The thriving farm is currently expanding its horizons, shifting focus from domestic markets to export-oriented production. This year, the farm is cultivating a diverse range of high-demand horticulture products, including, cabbages, butternuts, tomatoes, green peppers, watermelons and green chilli.
A significant 23 hectares have been dedicated to butternut cultivation, with a staggering 80 percent of the harvest earmarked for export.
The remaining 20 percent has already been snapped up by prominent local food chain shops in Harare and Beitbridge, underscoring the farm’s growing reputation for quality produce.
“The remainder of the butternut harvest will be exported. We have allocated 23 hectares to butternuts, 7 hectares to maize, 4 hectares to watermelons, and 1 hectare to green pepper. We use inter-cropping to maximise land use and ensure consistent revenue throughout the year. In addition to crops, we have 230 high-quality mixed beef breeds and 70 high-market-value goats, all with a ready market.”
Karonga Farm can now produce crops 365 days a year. This game-changing approach delivers water directly to the plant’s root zone, minimising evaporation and maximising efficiency.
By adopting drip irrigation, Karonga Farm has surpassed traditional methods like canal, sprinkler, and flood irrigation. The farm’s irrigation system draws water from the Mazunga River and multiple boreholes, powered by diesel or electricity. Additionally, a state-of-the-art aqua dam boasts an impressive 5 755 300-litre water capacity, further solidifying the farm’s water security.
“We started by supplying the Beitbridge market, but now we have penetrated markets in Harare, Chegutu, Kadoma, Bulawayo, Gwanda, Mbare, Masvingo, Chiredzi, and Gweru,” said Karonga.
He noted that the horticulture farm has created jobs for 65 permanent workers and an additional 100 casual workers, mainly women and youths from villages surrounding Ward 14, engaged during the harvest period.
“As you can see, we have very fertile soils and only need adequate irrigation water to increase production,” he said.
The use of drip irrigation has also helped control weeds since the project’s inception. Karonga emphasised the importance of farmers in the district embracing market-led production supported by drip irrigation to maximise production using less labour. – @tupeyo
