A 61-year-old Mbire woman has emerged as the best Rosella farmer in her area during last year’s cropping season.
Despite the El Nino-induced drought that prevailed last cropping season, Lista Gambuto from Ward 10, Nyamhara village in Mbire is a proud Rosella farmer after excelling as the most successful farmer harvesting 255 kilograms when the average yield per farmer in her area was 40.51 kilograms.
Lista, who is contracted by Organic Africa, a leading organic producer and exporter, received training from the Organic Farming Academy (OFA) on organic farming principles and climate-smart agriculture practices. Armed with this knowledge, she planted Rosella on her 2-hectare farm, initially expecting a yield of 400-450 kilograms per hectare.
“I planted Rosella on 2 hectares, expecting a good yield, but the drought-affected my crops. Still, Rosella performed better than the other crops I planted, including maize, finger millet, and groundnuts,” Lista shared.
Despite the devastating drought, she still managed to harvest 255 kilograms of Rosella, which she sold to Organic Africa, earning a substantial income that helped support her family. “I am grateful that the proceeds from the Rosella harvest enable me to purchase maize to feed my family and buy essential groceries like cooking oil and soap,” she said.
Organic Africa extension executive Phillip Chitewe praised Lista for diligently following the advice provided by himself and the OFA trainers. “Lista stood out because she followed all the organic farming advice we gave her. She planted her Rosella crop early in December, fenced her field to protect it from wild animals, and ensured ample time for harvesting, which guarantees a better yield, “Chitewe explained.
Lista’s success story serves as an inspiring example of resilience and dedication in the face of agricultural challenges.