Local innovation inspires cash crop farmer

Innovative water harvesting systems such as this irrigation infrastructure set up by Garikai Rwizi (58) helps to provide consistent water supplies to crops during the dry period. Garikai is working with Towards Sustainable Use of Resources Organisation (TSURO) Trust. He has constructed boreholes to irrigate his land. But he could not buy water tanks. Garikai improvised and used drums. Garikai has also constructed earth dams that serve to augment his irrigation. He has now ventured into fish farming. Photo: TSURO Trust

Garikai Rwizi (58), a smallholder farmer from Chimanimani district says the innovations of the late Zephania Phiri have inspired him to become a successful cash crop farmer.

Garikai lives in ward 5 in Rupise, an arid area in Chimanimani district in Manicaland province. Rupise is in agroecological region 5 and is characterized by erratic rainfall of less than 500 mm per year. Garikai’s innovation has helped him to produce diverse crops such as tomatoes on his two-hectare farm.

“I grow tomatoes and sell an average of 30 buckets of tomatoes per week. I earn USD 10 per bucket and each week I earn USD 300 which translates to USD 1200 per month,” says Garikai.

Garikai says his farming journey started in the year 2009 when he was exposed to the work of Zephania Phiri, a pioneering figure in water harvesting from Zvishabane in the Midlands province. His trip to Zvishabane was made possible by PELUM Zimbabwe network member, Towards Sustainable Use of Resources Organisation (TSURO) Trust.

“After the visit to Zvishavane, I developed some interest in water harvesting. I decided to sell some cattle and donkeys to raise money to drill boreholes and buy irrigation equipment,” says Garikai.

Garikai initially drilled one borehole which allowed him to start cash crop farming.

“I drilled one borehole and for a while I used to fetch the water using buckets. Later on, I bought submersible pumps to reduce the burden of fetching water. At that time I started growing tomatoes and sugar beans,” says Garikai.

Garikai says his work is guided by trainings he got from TSURO Trust. He adds that the agroecological approach has given his family a secure livelihood.

“My life has greatly improved since I adopted water harvesting strategies. I have managed to connect electricity to my home. I am also managing to send my children to school. I also have adequate food for my family throughout the year,” says Garikai.

Nelson Ziwacha (49) is the Livelihoods Officer for TSURO Trust. Nelson says smallholder farmers in Chimanimani face water shortages and this hinders their work.

“Rupise, ward 5 is under agroecological region 5 which means it is very hot. Many smallholder farmers get poor harvests because of inadequate rains. This is particularly worse for the farmers who do not harvest water,” says Nelson.

Nelson says his organization supports smallholder farmers to harness agroecological practices such as water harvesting.

“In 2009 TSURO Trust facilitated a ‘look and learn’ trip to Zvishavane Water Project. We took farmers to Zvishavane and stayed there for a week, orienting the farmers on water harvesting strategies,” says Nelson. Nelson adds that smallholder farmers who have adopted water harvesting like Garikai are now food secure.