Meet the Emerging Farmer: Dominic Machingura

Meet the Emerging Farmer: Dominic Machingura

Meet the Emerging Farmer urban farming water

Meet Emerging Farmer...Dominic Machingura. Dominic is an urban farmer growing vegetables for local supermarkets on his family's urban plot in Belvedere, Harare. Prior to October 2014, Dominic had absolutely no previous experience farming or even gardening. His turning point was attending a Zimbabwe Farmers' Union event where he was inspired by other young farmers to get involved. With a little bit of capital from his family, he started farming.

How did your farming journey start?  Do you come from an agricultural background?

My farming journey started last year on the 14th October 2014 after attending the Zimbabwe Farmers' Union ZYA Summit. I don’t come from an agricultural background,in fact, I am studying accounting and grew up wanting to be a musician.

How did your educational and training background assist you in starting your own farming business?

My accounting training gave me the confidence that I could start something of my own.

Tell us how you manage your daily work routine?

Well, some days it starts at 4 a.m. cause that’s when I find it best to water. I have days when I plant new seedlings and I have days when I do things like weeding, tilling and I have a time that I set aside for marketing.

Can you tell us a little about your team?

It is a one-man operation, though from time to time I employ the services of a part-time worker.

What lessons have you learned on your farming entrepreneurial journey so far?

Wow! So many lessons. First, when starting farming there is a learning curve that will take you a least one year to pass.  Second, that you need to market your produce aggressively. Third, when it comes to farming that you need to do your things on time not sooner not later.  And finally, that you need to be innovative depending on how much space you have available.

What are some of the challenges you've faced as a farmer in Zimbabwe?

The challenges I have faced are a shortage of water and expensive input costs.

What advice would give other emerging farmers?

If you work hard in farming and are patient you are guaranteed to be rewarded greatly for your effort, so if it does not work the first time or the second time or the third it will work on the fourth and as from when it starts working it won’t stop, so they should not give up!!

What are your future plans and aspirations for your agribusiness?

Well, I want to be able to supply every shop in Zimbabwe with fresh produce. I want to mechanise my operations all the way from land preparation right through to harvesting, this will help me save money and increase my profits.

{Image Credit: Dominic Machingura}

Meet the Emerging Farmer: Yvonne Kazingizi

Meet the Emerging Farmer: Yvonne Kazingizi

Farmer Profiles Meet the Emerging Farmer

This week’s emerging farmer is Yvonne Kazingizi. Yvonne is the co-founder and Finance Director of Hortech Limited, a startup horticulture company. Her goal? Build a leading horticulture company and a green future. Emerging Farmer talked to her about getting started, her farming vision and her business team.

Let’s start from the beginning: Where did your farming journey begin?

Yvonne: My farming journey started when I was working at Pedstock Investments {a farm supply and service company} as a sale representative.

It started with a conversation during lunch with my friend, and co-worker Rumbidzai Mbambo. She wanted to venture into farming but didn't have enough resources to get started and I was in a similar position. I had this strong desire to venture into farming, influenced by the company I was working for.

Do you have a farming background?

Yvonne: Yes I do have a farming background. I grew up with my grandparents who did a lot of farming. During the rainy season, we would go kumunda {to the fields}, to plant maize as well as doing gardening at home.

Can you tell us about your company and what it does?

Yvonne: Our company is called Hortech Limited and we mainly deal with the supply of quality horticulture produce.

What was your motivation to start farming?

Yvonne: I was motivated by a number of factors, first, the desire and passion that I always had for farming to do something with my own hands. Second, to earn extra income for myself instead of having to wait for my salary. Third, to also provide employment for many people who are unable to find employment, and above all to revive our country’s agriculture sector.

How did your educational background help you with running your farming business?

Yvonne: I am an accounts graduate with the Institute of Administration and Commerce (IAC).My accounting background has helped me with: managing as well as raising funds for my business coupled with the working that am getting at work since I deal with farmers.

Tell us how you manage your daily work routine

Yvonne: Since I am still in formal employment I work Monday through Saturday, during that time I deal with farmers. I manage my farming business during my free time over the weekend. During that time, I research how to be more efficient in what I do. And on other free days, if not most days, I will be out in the garden, tending to the crops.

Tell us about your partners and team

Yvonne: As Hortech LTD,   there are five of us in total.  We have Rumbidzai Mbambo, a horticulturalist, whose studying horticulture at Midlands State University (MSU). Wiseman Mashandudze, irrigation engineer, then there is me, the Finance Director and our sub team Mr James, project supervisor and Chris, our driver.

What lessons have you learned along your journey?

Yvonne: Find a market before ploughing and harvesting your crop. To always have adequate resources be it financial and pertaining to transport, because it was a huge disaster for us failing to transport our goods to the market because we did not budget for transport costs.

What are some of the challenges of getting started farming in Zimbabwe?

Yvonne: One, as a young farmer we have faced challenges pertaining to funding issues they are a lot of projects that we intend to do but getting the adequate finance has being our stumbling block.

Two, low prices in market. We have been forced to sell our produce at low prices which barely sustain us.Three, transport and logistical challenges. After having produced quality goods, hiring transport to take our goods to market has been a challenge because we end up using our sales money to pay for our transport costs and as a result no money to put back in the business.

Four, land is an issue for us because we would like to grow big but we only have small portions of land which limit our growth.

What advice would you give other farmers?

My advice will be not to give up in whatever farming branch you are doing, because as farmers we got the tendency of giving up to quickly because a project failed at first doesn't mean it is not worth it, take each and every obstacle or disappointment as a learning curve to better yourself next time.

Second, be passionate with what you are doing because passion will carry you in the difficult times. Third, research and study - be it the market or the produce you want to sale.

What is your vision for Hortech?

We intend for Hortech LTD to be a sole supplier of quality horticulture produce not only in Zimbabwe but internationally. Our motto being "Grow a Green Future"

We intend create a school on farming were farmers learn how to grow quality crops without having to enroll in an tertiary institute, as well as create employment as we grow . And lastly to set up food processing plants.

Meet the Emerging Farmer: Ruramiso Mashumba

Meet the Emerging Farmer: Ruramiso Mashumba

Farmer Profiles Meet the Emerging Farmer

Ruramiso Mashumba is a farmer and founder of Chomwedzi Farm, located about 20 km from Marondera, Zimbabwe. Not only is she growing for export, she is also a young leader in the Zimbabwe Farmer Union, a leading farmer association. Emerging Farmer sat down with her, to talk about how she got started, staying present and her vision for the future. 

Devoted, motivated and strong-willed are three words that would describe, 29-year-old, Ruramiso Mashumba, a young lady who decided to go against the grain, and make a living farming.

With 117 hectares of gum trees, 10 hectares of maize, four hectares of soya and a plan to grow peas in the winter, her assertiveness is evident in the number of hectares she has under  production in Marondera. In the beginning, her authority was undermined because she was a woman.

Her studies in the UK made her especially realize the differences, but also the similarities between European and Zimbabwean farming. With this knowledge, Ruramiso is always keen on new approaches, ideas, and technologies.

How did your farming journey start?  Do you come from an agricultural background?

I studied farming in high school at Watershed College in Marondera. The school is strong in educating young people in agriculture. That’s when my farming career began at the age of 17. At that time, my dad also bought a farm next door to school.

I grow peas for export, and brown organic rice, green mealies, potatoes, gum trees, and vegetables.

What was the catalyst for you to becoming a farmer?

My education and upbringing made me who I am today.

How did your educational and training background assist you in starting your own farming business?

I did a diploma in Agriculture first and got a First Class and two distinctions then I did B.A. (Hons) in Agriculture Business Management in the United Kingdom (UK).

Tell us about a typical day on the farm?

I start work at 6am. I have a quick meeting with workers.  And do the rounds around the farm and the day ends at 7pm.

Tell us a little about your team?

I am proud to say I have a committed and dedicated team. I have 3 people who run the irrigation daily from 6am till about 4pm. I have a foreman who does record keeping like millimetres (mm) of rain, records activity, monitors activities, and other things. I also work with agronomists who supply us chemicals from Agricura (a local company) who are willing to come and help with external services.

What lessons have you learned in your farming entrepreneurial journey so far?

I have learned that you need to be present to win. It is important as farmers to actually live and visit your project daily. Also, no man is an island. Connect with people who sell you seed, fertilizers and chemicals. Get them to visit you.

What are the challenges you face as a Zimbabwean farmer?

I think the challenge I face is in Zimbabwe is access to everything is not easy. To buy equipment you need cash. To install irrigation you need to pay cash. So really there is not enough financial support, I would say to youth and farmers out there – if you don’t have collateral, don’t be afraid to get a loan.

What advice would give other farmers?

My advice would to new farmers is to start small. Understand how to run a business at the back of your garden before you grow, get a market first. And lastly, if you fail to try again.

What are your future plans and aspirations for you agribusiness?

I hope to be able to expand from small scale. I irrigate using an overhead system, I would like a center pivot which is more efficient. To own good quality equipment and to have a processing plant on the farm for my rice and vegetables that I will export across the region. My farm to become an agritourism place and to inspire other youth, women, and school children.