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Sydney Mubaiwa in Bikita
Communal farmers in drought-prone Bikita have been challenged to work closely with agricultural extension workers in their areas if Government efforts to improve yields and ensure food security in the district are to bear fruit. Addressing hundreds of communal farmers gathered at a field day in Chikuku communal lands recently, Bikita West Member of Parliament Cde Beauty Chabaya said it was crucial for communal farmers to improve crop yields by tapping expertise from agricultural experts.

Cde Chabaya said communal farmers needed to take advantage of Government programmes like the Command Agriculture Scheme to starve-off food shortages.

“I am encouraging you all to work with local agricultural extension officers. These people are like shepherds who are going to lead you to greener pastures. I urge you to work with them so that you can boost production”, she said.

She said communal farmers should discard archaic farming methods and adopt modern methods from highly experienced and well trained extension officers.

Cde Chabaya also urged youths to fully embrace farming and treat it as a business, pointing out that vast opportunities existed in the agricultural sector.

“Our youths should actively participate in farming activities and take advantage of their education to adopt modern farming techniques which can be easily imparted to them by extension officers. Farming can also be a form of employment and help arrest high unemployment among our youths,’’ she said.

Cde Chabaya also urged farmers to diversify and grow different crop varieties, taking cognisance of the climatic conditions of their areas.

Communal farmers in arid parts of Bikita were supposed to shift towards small grains that were drought-tolerant to ensure food security.

She said there was need to embrace latest farming technology in the wake of recurrent droughts caused by climate change.

Cde Chabaya said it was also important for communal farmers to embark on water harvesting and construct weirs to preserve water and retain moisture for them to boost yields.

She paid tribute to President Mnangagwa’s Government for continuously assisting farmers, particularly those from poor rural communities with inputs through programmes such as the Presidential Well-Wishers Inputs Scheme.