all smiles…Kudzai Gasho at his farm
He has lived in several African countries and also once stayed in Eastern Europe, before coming back home. His father was a farmer and from a young age, he wanted to be one. He has managed to realise his childhood dream and today he is a farmer of note as he had managed to achieve many things through this venture. To know about his farmer, NewsSpaceZim Reporter, Munyaradzi Blessing Doma (MBD) sat down with Kudzai Gasho (KG) on these and other issues.
MBD: Tell me any childhood memories that could have shaped up the farming business that you are engaged in.
KG: I was born and raised in Karoi Hurungwe, I attended my primary school at a local school, Karoi Primary School. My father was a farmer and on weekends, I would spend time at the farm where as a young child I would manage my father’s workers ensuring that everything was done properly, especially on the application of fertilizer. Back then almost everything was done manually, and as I watched the crops grow, I felt proud of myself, and from a very young age I believed that I was a farmer and I developed so much passion for farming.
Kudzai Gasho
MBD: Tell me more about the farming business, how did it all happen?
KG: After my high school , I ventured in different fields of business stayed in different countries in Africa, that is Namibia, Malawi, Zambia, before I later moved to Eastern Europe then 2017 I decided to venture into farming. The long walk to the business of my passion was mainly delayed because I felt like I needed a lot of capital to start farming as l grew up seeing how capital intensive it was for my father every season of the year. So in 2017, Command Agriculture was introduced and I saw it fit to grab the opportunity and l began farming which was my long lost dream.
I do commercial farming, doing crops like maize, wheat, tobacco, potatoes and I’m yet to venture into livestock farming.
MBD: How has it been since you started?
KG: Ever since I started farming, I have managed to do things I wished to do, like travelling on holidays across the globe because finances had been my hurdle, but farming opened doors to dreams unlimitedly. And ever since; my life has been so comfortable and unlimited. I have also started investing my profits in properties.
MBD: What are some of the challenges you have faced if any and what has been your strategy to deal with them?
KG: Climate change has been a huge challenge and I have experienced droughts and lost crops almost amounting to half a million dollars. And this has made me to invest so much in mechanizing my farm by putting up irrigation infrastructure systems. This has reduced loss and risks in business. I want my farm to be the hub of tobacco production, this farming season I’m doing 80hc of tobacco. I’m building tunnel infrastructure for tobacco curing so that from next season I am able to increase my hectarage up to 200hc of tobacco.
MBD: What is your driving force?
KG: My driving force is to one day become a multi millionaire so it keeps me pushing and improving my farming skills.
MBD: Advice to other farmers?
KG: My advice to fellow farmers is to make use of the opportunities available from the government.
Kudzai Gasho
MBD: Away from farming, what do you do?
KG: I’m a politician in my own right and I’m the current Secretary for Youth Affairs in Zanu PF Hurungwe admin district and I’m studying Law at Zimbabwe Institute of Legal Studies. I want to enhance my approach in politics and be a better version of myself.
MBD: I understand you have been awarded for your farming exploits, tell me more.
KG: In 2018-2019 season l scooped an award, for being the best maize farmer for the Young Farmers Awards, I produced about 750 tonnes of maize.
MBD: Thank you for your time Mr Gasho.
KG: You are welcome.
Other business people who may want to feature on this profile please do get in touch on my number +263777283907 or email munyabless@yahoo.com
