Midweek Reporter
Gutu South Constituency hosted an Agricultural Show at Maungwa High School on Saturday, 23 August bringing together farmers and community members to celebrate farming excellence and promote healthy lifestyles.
Out of 179 participants from across the constituency, 50 exhibitions qualified for the show, showcasing an impressive range of agricultural produce with major focus on the display of modified varieties of Rapoko and Sorghum designed to resist bird attacks and parasites through features like prickly outcrops.
The show placed strong emphasis on small grains such as runinga (sesame), rapoko, millet, sorghum, sunflower, roundnuts, and bambara nuts as they are lauded to be key to food security and resilient agriculture in Zimbabwe.
Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Davis Marapira, who was the guest of honor, encouraged unity among all societal sectors in promoting agriculture as a pathway to economic empowerment.
He also applauded the success of the 2024/2025 summer cropping season and urged farmers to support the Strategic National Grain Reserves by donating at least 10kg of grain of their harvest.
The event recognized top performing farmers, with Martha Mavheneke of Ward 28 scooping the top prize; a brand new grinding mill, wheelbarrow, a 50kg bag of basal fertilizer, pesticides, and a 5-litre cooking pot.
Marapira emphasized the role of women and youth in the sector through the Agri4She program, women are being empowered to lead in agriculture.
He also outlined opportunities being created for youths through training centres, innovation hubs and start-up support in areas such as agribusiness and climate smart farming.
Speaking at the same event, Gutu South Member of Parliament, Pupurai Togarepi called for greater incentives in small grains farming, encouraging organizers to introduce special awards to promote this vital agricultural segment.
The Gutu South Agricultural Show not only celebrated farming excellence but also reinforced the importance of community driven agricultural development, youth and women empowerment, and the fight against drug and substance abuse marking a significant step toward a more food secure and resilient constituency.
The show was spiced up by an inter-constituency netball and soccer tournament against drugs and substance abuse sponsored by MP Togarepi.
