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Amai Grace Mugabe

Elita Chikwati Harare Bureau
GUSHUNGO Holdings’ Iron Mask Farm in Mazowe, owned by the First Family, had the best maize crop in the Mazowe area.
At a field day at the farm recently, Minister of State for Mashonaland Central, Advocate Martin Dinha  said:
“To achieve what the First Family has demonstrated today requires maximum dedication, adequate planning, good vision and competent management to assist in the day to day running of all farm operations.

“This is important for any farmer allocated land under the land reform if we are to maximise production on the farms.”
Iron Mask Farm has 900 hectares of arable land under commercial maize, seed maize, sugarbeans, Michigan beans, potatoes and soybeans.

Gushungo Holdings general manager Stanley Nhari said he expected a yield of above 10 tonnes per hectare.
“For a farmer to succeed he should follow the correct procedures that include planting on time, planning and planting proper varieties, good land preparation and effective use of herbicides,” he said.

“A farmer should also motivate his workers by paying them on time,” Nhari added.
Adv Dinha said farming was a business and “farmers should not take their allocated land as holiday resorts”.

“We are tired of begging for food from neighbouring countries when we have vast tracts of land lying idle,” Adv Dinha said.
Pioneer Hi-Breed extension officer John Bhasera urged farmers to grow medium and short-season varieties as weather patterns were now more unpredictable than before.

“Farmers should also ensure a high plant population to achieve high yields, apply top dressing fertilisers in splits and always seek advice from Agritex extension officers,” he said.

Present at the field day were ministers of State Simbaneuta Mudarikwa (Mashonaland East), Faber Chidarikire (Mashonaland West), and Miriam Chikukwa (Harare) as well as Tourism and Hospitality Deputy Minister Epmarcus Kanhanga and other government officials.

The dignitaries also toured Amai Mugabe Junior School and an orphanage she runs, expressing appreciation for the work the First Lady was doing.