Chegutu hosts Winter Wheat Field Day

WHAT impressed stakeholders at a recent winter wheat field day was that Mike
Rukawo, who comes from a family that operates businesses in and around Chegutu,
decided to return home and help run the family’s farming business.
Mike was based overseas when he heeded his father’s call to return to Zimbabwe
and help run the family’s farming business.
Brand Rukawo is a familiar name in Chegutu as Mike’s father owns T P Rukawo
Motel, which is located in Chegutu along the Harare-Bulawayo Road.
Most stakeholders at the recent winter wheat field day believed that as a child,
whose father is a businessman, and had gone overseas, Mike could have chosen an
easier life than taking up farming.
Mike Rukawo’s father, T. Phillip Rukawo, urged parents to encourage their children
to take up farming as a business and to pay them and not only promise that they
would be the inheritors of their parents’ wealth, because the children have their own
everyday needs.
The Department of Agritex held the wheat field day at the Rukawos’ Thorndyke Farm
in Selous, under the theme “Enhancing flour self-sufficient through good wheat
agronomic practices”.  
The Rukawos planted wheat on a 45-hectare area of land. There are other
productions on the farm and stakeholders were taken on a tour of the wheat field,
piggery unit and hay bales.
The Director (Crops Agricultural Advisory and Rural Development Services -AARDS)
Mr Tapererwa, represented the Chief Director (AARDS), Professor Obert Jiri, at the
field day.
He said the Government had acquired drones for the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture,
Fisheries Water and Rural Development that will be used in the fight against quelea
birds that affect wheat.
He stressed that irrigation schemes will be resuscitated and that the Government is
determined to resuscitate the schemes countrywide.
He encouraged farmers to attend farming programmes and form farmers' clubs,
where farmers can meet to discuss and share farming methods, challenges and to
come up with solutions.
He particularly urged all farmers to follow the Pfumvudza/Intwasa modalities as
stipulated.

He stressed recent comments by the Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture,
Fisheries, Waster and Rural Development, Vangelis Haritatos, that the inputs are
from the President and that the President declared all citizens are eligible for the
inputs despite their political affiliations.
Small-scale farmers were encouraged to send their produce to the Grain Marketing
Board (GMB) as one plot of five Pfumvudza plots is expected to be for family’s
consumption and the rest for the GMB to enable the farmers to receive cash for their
produce and improve their lifestyles.
During the tour, Mike Rukawo explained why he chose the Nduna wheat seed
variety as it is drought tolerant but regretted that they had planted the wheat late as
there was still maize in the field.
However, the research team led by Agritex Officer Wabatagore said while Nduna is a
good variety it is not advisable as a late crop as it susceptible to rust and smart
diseases.
Farmers, he encouraged, should select the seed variety for them to realise a good
harvest.
Wabatagore advised the Rukawos to plant the Serena variety for any late planted
wheat, but he also advised farmers to undertake soil analysis to determine soil
acidity.
He advised using 130kg wheat seed per hectare for the farmers to realise greater
production. Wheat cannot be transplanted.
Farmers should use seed drills and vicon as broadcasting methods during planting.
Using a quadrant in determining the plant population is important. A quadrant is a
four-sided equal shaped square which is 1m by 1m.
Farmers were also advised to use their half palm to calculate the quadrant as they
do not usually carry measuring instruments to the field. Half a palm is 10cm so, 10
half palms will be 1m.  The plant population is now 250 to 300 plants per square
metre multiplied by the hectarage to come up with the plant population.
Agritex reiterated that this information should be taken seriously by all farmers as
they are the ones who produce and ensure the nation’s food security.  
The Rukawos can expect approximately four tonnes per hectare, although their
expectations were five tonnes per hectare.
During the tour of the farm, Mr Rukawo said veld fires were a hazard to farmers as
he had lost almost 100 bales along Harare Bulawayo road that were due to be
collected the following day but were lost to veld fires.
The Rukawos have hundreds of hay bales at their farm because they prefer hay
bales for livestock feed to wheat straw and would rather use wheat straw as mulch in
maize fields. Small-scale farmers practising Pfumvudza/Intwasa were encouraged to
use wheat straw as mulch.  

Representing Chegutu East MP Webster Shamu, Councillor Mwabvu of Chegutu
Rural District Council Ward 11, said it is important for farmers to be well organised
and for other farmers to learn from programmes such as field days.
He commended Mr Rukawo for being an organised farmer and businessman.
MP Shamu’s wish is for the Government to assist small-scale farmers to reach the
level of production and productivity such as the Rukawos.
MP Shamu implored the Government to resuscitate Riversdale Irrigation Scheme,
which is along Mupfure River, where there is adequate water.
Nyabango Co-operative in Ward 26 has 40 farmers on 100 hectares who have
installed 1.7km of irrigation pipes, a powerhouse, 2.550 horse power, have a
transformer and are set to purchase two tractors.
MP Shamu said Nyabango Co-operative farmers require four boreholes, installation
of electricity and fencing of their farming area.
Hopewell Farm in Ward 11 has 700 hectares that need irrigation to assist the 110
farmers to sustain their families, pay school fees and at the same time feed the
nation.
He encouraged farmers to prepare Pfumvudza/Intwasa holes in order for them to
become eligible for inputs.
Different Government departments and companies showcased their facilities and
services. Veterinary Services Department said the January disease is still affecting
cattle but can only be fought by dipping cattle regularly on a weekly basis. There is
sufficient medication in the country to assist farmers in eradicating the January
disease.
Bain New Holland showcased tractors that they sell in Chegutu. The owner of
Zimaku Rose chicks, praised Agritex officers who assisted him all the way.
An official from Zimbabwe Leaf Tobacco advised farmers to desist from using barns
that need firewood but to use coal instead.
ZRP Officer-in-Charge Selous, Inspector Garaweni, encouraged farmers to take
farming as a business and advised farmers to ensure police vet people they employ
because some employees were potential thieves.
He also advised farmers to have security guards for their pivots and solar systems,
also adding that farmers should have fireguards to avoid their property from being
destroyed by veld fires and to have security trained in firearms so that their firearms
will not be used against them.
Stakeholders were treated to food and drinks from Rukawo hotel services. The
Rukawo family presented gifts to the guest of honour in the form of two heifers – for
the Chief Director and Director (crops). – Rural Communication Services