The ManicaPost
Abel Zhakata Senior Reporter
MORE than 500 farmers thronged Kaja Farm in Vumba last Friday for an impressive Prime Seedco field day that acted as an eye-opener for serious horticultural farmers in the district and beyond. Apart from exhibiting a variety of crops at the farm, chief among them tomatoes, the field day also presented itself as a learning arena as those present received expert advice from Prime Seedco agronomists on how best they can turn their fields into high yield plots.
The field day was also attended by Agritex officers, traditional leaders, church leaders, fruit and vegetable retail outlets, fertiliser companies, farming inputs distributors and several other organisation who deal in agricultural implements. Many were stunned to see the tremendous work being done by 34-year-old Mr Silas Taunda Kaja. The farm produces an average of 10 tonnes of tomatoes per week which are sold locally.
This translates to about 300 tonnes per month. By any measure the youthful farmer sits among the top producers of tomatoes in the province in terms of both quantity and quality. To achieve this feat, Mr Kaja is in partnership with Prime Seedco as the sole supplier of the hybrid seed varieties as well as other farming implements that are required at his enterprise.
Apart from securing these inputs which he gets at a discount, Prime Seedco offers him after sales services in the form of expert advice and frequent farm visits and monitoring schedules to ensure that he gets the desired production results.
Farmers take notes during the field day at Kaja Farm – Pictures by Abel Zhakata
Mr Kaja’s 10 hectare farm is all under drip irrigation. About half of the farm is under tomatoes and the remaining hectarage is shared among butter-nuts, cabbages, watermelons and baby marrow. In an interview at the field day, Mr Kaja said farming requires full commitment and the execution of all processes as dictated in the books.
“Tomatoes are the main crop that we produce at this farm. Presently we have four hectares of tomatoes apart from the ones that are housed in the green houses. We plant all varieties which include round and the jam types. People in Manicaland prefer the jam types and thus we produce more of those for the local market,” he said.
“Expert advice is very important because when you buy hybrid seed, it’s not cheap seed. You cannot do experiments. Expert advice is kingpin. In our operations here at the farm we seek advice everyday and companies like Prime Seedco give you regular feedback and advice and these guys come on the ground to assess progress.
“Some of their agronomists travel all the way from Harare and even from out of the country to monitor the development of their seed varieties for free. From land preparation, the application of fertilisers, soil testing and other processes they help you.”
Mr Kaja said farmers must deal with reputable seed companies that offer best after sales services and product support in order to do well at the farm.
“Fly by night seed companies that are only concerned with getting your money when you purchase their products but dumb you thereafter and leave you alone are not good at all,” he added.
Mr Kaja said he will soon export some of his horticultural products through the help he is getting from Prime Seedco.
