Agriculture Column Tapuwa Mashangwa
WHEN one talks about agriculture, the recipient of the information usually imagines a big farm with irrigation equipment watering maize, tobacco or wheat. If it is not that then some cattle, poultry and pigs being reared on a large scale.

There is nothing wrong with this view or assumption, the only sad thing is that agriculture has much more to offer than that and so many other projects to do that do not directly involve the use of land.

Diversification of agriculture refers to the shift from the regional dominance of one crop to regional production of a number of crops, to meet ever increasing demand for cereals, pulses, vegetables, fruits, oilseeds, fibres, fodder and grasses , fuel, etc.

It aims to improve soil health and a dynamic equilibrium of the agro-ecosystem. Crop diversification takes into account the economic returns from different value-added crops.

It is different from the concept of multiple cropping or succession planting in which multiple crops are planted in succession over the course of a growing season. Moreover, it implies the use of environmental and human resources to grow a mix of crops with complementary marketing opportunities.

It implies shifting of resources from low value crops to high value crops, usually intended for human consumption such as fresh market fruits and vegetables.

With globalisation of the market , crop diversification in agriculture means to increase the total crop productivity in terms of quality, quantity and monetary value under specific, diverse agro-climatic situations world-wide.

There are two approaches to crop diversification in agriculture. First is horizontal diversification, which is the primary approach to crop diversification in production agriculture.

Here, diversification takes place through crop intensification by adding new high-value crops to existing cropping systems as a way to improve the overall productivity of a farm or region’s farming economy. The second is the vertical diversification approach in which farmers and others add value to products through processing, regional branding, packaging, merchandising, or other efforts to enhance the product.

Among the possible agricultural projects with high returns are; borehole drilling, dairy farming, fish farming, biogas production, crocodile farming, snake farming, mushroom production, market gardening, cattle fattening, egg production, compost and mulch formation and production, hydroponic farming, commodity trading, bee keeping, butcheries, duck, quail, geese, guinea fowl and ostrich rearing, sheep and goat rearing.

Others include warehousing, agricultural education/workshops, green housing, speciality flower production, fertiliser selling, herbicide sales, veterinary services, cereal production, dried food packaging and selling, producing and selling sheep cheese, llama, alpacas, guanacos or vicunas rearing for their pelts or wool, training and promotion of rural crafts — (eg) offering dry stone walling workshops, opening facilities for craft making and retailing, tourism – opening land up for camping or a bed and breakfast, non-food crops (planting of bamboos, gumtrees for posterior resale or for making furniture), shell fish farming, lobster farming, game hunting (depending on the size of land one owns or leases).

There are also worms in compost for bait, pharmaceutical crops and related products (for example aloe vera), energy crops – short rotation coppice and miscanthus, industrial fibre crops such as hemp, flax and cereal straw, olive and almond farming.

Retail outlets and catering industries could also be linked to farm shops and tea room, rural tourism such as farm attractions, making and selling non-agricultural products – cakes and beer, adding value – smoked-food products, cheese and ice-cream.

Energy markets through wood fuel projects, olive and almond farming and so much more come on board.

In developed countries agriculture is a multi-billion dollar sector and here in Africa despite the vast amount of land we possess we are underperforming.

It seems we are still playing follow the leader and this mind-set needs to change.

One thing I have noticed in Zimbabwe is that if one person starts a successful business you will find that 20 even more people will do the exact same thing.

I have been to Harare and one finds that on Robert Mugabe Way everyone is selling the exact same thing and it is the same also here in Bulawayo at the flea markets.

This disease is predominant in agriculture and then farmers want to cry about not making enough money. Of course you cannot make money when the product or service you offer is flooding the marketing.

There is a difference between an agribusiness farmer, a farmer and a landowner.

The best businesses are the ones that have a unique product or service to offer, the ones that grow and adapt creating and reinforcing new markets and establishing new technologies and ways of doing things.

Such businesses do more than just what the average business does. They are the business that chose to change the pace and are radical enough to venture out into new territories because of the possible high profit margins and are inspired to pioneer new products and services.

We live in a world where the possibilities are endless henceforth we cannot look at agriculture as just some pastime dominant with repetition or copying and pasting agribusiness products and services but rather a business industry with infinite growth potential and virgin markets waiting to be explored.

In life, especially in business, it is important to try and then quit than to quit before even trying.

Life will surprise you.

• The writer is Tapuwa Justice Mashangwa, a young Bulawayo-based entrepreneur, founder and CEO of Emerald Agribusiness Consultancy.
• He can be contacted on 0739096418 or email: [email protected]