THE Land Reform Programme which benefitted more than 400 000 households after reclaiming land from the minority
4 000 white commercial farmers has since its inception, more than a decade ago, taken a flak mainly from the international media and Western governments opposed to the initiative.
But a visit last week by The Patriot to Winsross Tsambatare’s farm in Mhangura showed that these anti-Land Reform and Resettlement Programme claims were a gimmick by former white commercial farmers, both the local and international media and other critics to discredit the potential success of the land redistribution exercise.
Tsambatare is one of the many successful beneficiaries of the land reform exercise and undisputable evidence of how black Zimbabweans have not only successfully taken back their land but become highly productive, some surpassing the levels of former white commercial farmers.
The Mashonaland West-based farmer who got 146 hectares during the exercise has been recording increased production since 2003 when he got the farm.
Tsambatare said he has been able to operate at full capacity, utilising 100 percent of his arable land.
He said he has been realising an average of at least 300 tonnes of commercial maize per season which he delivered to local grain millers.
“Since the time I benefitted from the land redistribution exercise I have been engaged in commercial maize production with a small percentage dedicated to seed production,” Tsambatare said.
“I produce at least 100 tonnes of seed maize for a local seed manufacturing company that I have entered into a contract with.
“Production at the farm is moving successfully and I must admit that I am realising profits every year and at the moment I farm at least 38 hectares of commercial maize.”
Apart from maize production, Tsambatare is also involved in bulk production of legumous crops.
“My average production of soya beans per season is 25 tonnes which I intend to maintain in the coming years,” he said.
“I am also involved in sugar bean production with an output of at least 15 tonnes per season.”
Contrary to false claims by the international media that indigenous farmers do not have the capacity to cultivate the land due to lack of machinery, Tsambatare has managed to acquire sophisticated machinery that is needed for commercial agriculture.
“I have managed to buy four tractors, two planters and four sets of harrows that have enabled me to boost production,” he said.
“I was also able to purchase two trucks with a capacity of seven and 10 tonnes that I use to transport my inputs and outputs.”
In their bid to undermine local farmers, former white commercial farmers also claimed that beneficiaries of the land reform exercise were realising a lot of losses and failed to pay back loans to banks.
“My success was mainly encouraged by the support I am getting from local banks who have been giving me loans to boost my working capital,” Tsambatare said.
“I have established good relationship with borrowers who are supporting me with money to buy inputs though we still need more loans to increase our production and buy more equipment.”
Tsambatare has constructed workers houses to accommodate his 24 permanent employees.
“Apart from my permanent workers, I also employ more than 50 workers on contract during harvesting periods,” he said.
“I try by all means to upgrade and please my workers to motivate them to work hard in boosting the yield.”
Tsambatare said farming had greatly improved his life.
“I used to run other businesses in Chinhoyi, but I quit after realising that agriculture was more profitable,” he said.
“With my farming proceeds I have managed to build a new farm house and buy top of the range cars on cash basis.
“When I came here to start farming I did not have much but agriculture has transformed my life.”
Farmers in the country, despite challenges they are facing, have made significant strides, sprinting where white farmers crawled.
For instance, the amount of tobacco produced by indigenous farmers has since surpassed output that came from the former white commercial farmers.
This has proved that black farmers are just as good, if not better.