An Analysis of the Potential, Constraints and Strategies for Development of Marirangwe Farm (A Project of the Women’s University in Africa)

Aims: The aim of the study was to conduct an analysis of the potential, constraints and strategies for development of Marirangwe Farm. Marirangwe Farm is a project of the Women’s University in Africa (WUA) in Mashonaland East Province of Zimbabwe.

Place and Duration of Study: This case study was conducted in July 2014 in Zimbabwe.

Methodology: The methodology involved administering a questionnaire with structured and open-ended questions to key informants who are part of the management team at the farm.

Results: The following constitute formidable constraints to crop production activities: market availability; availability of suitable land for expansion of crop enterprises; high labour requirements for the crops cultivated; high cost of labour; poor soil structure and fertility; and shortage of rain at critical times of crop growth. The major constraints which inhibit the full realization of the potential for improving animal enterprises at Marirangwe Farm include unsuitable climate and physical environment for livestock production; and high insect, parasite and disease risk of the animals. The financial analysis revealed a negative Whole Farm Gross Margin of -$800.00 and a huge negative Whole Farm Profit of -$32,400.00 in the 2013/14 farming season. Partial Budget Analysis revealed that the viability of farm operations and proposed changes in the structure of enterprises depends on the relative prices of dairy milk to other livestock products. An analysis of machinery costs based on depreciation found that the farm manager has to put aside at least $9,100 towards the replacement of farm machinery.

Conclusion: Several options can be pursued to improve the financial performance of the farm. Several options can be pursued. First of all, the potential and scope for implementing more intensive crop production should be considered. Implementation should include the resuscitation of boreholes and increasing irrigable area, resuscitating greenhouses and use of certified seed/ materials, and conducting research to identify potential market outlets for produce. The lack of enough organic material to improve soil structure and fertility could be redressed by purchasing organic manure from surrounding farms. Alternatively and in addition, animal dung could be harvested from the pens and open veld and applied to the fields. The high cost of herbicides as an impediment to effective weed control could be reduced by pursuing manual or mechanical methods of weed control. There also needs to be a move towards high-value crops such as tobacco and horticultural flowers. The farm should also invest in product market development in order to identify market niches and market segments with relatively inelastic demand where the farm can charge higher prices for its products. Measures to improve machinery efficiency include keeping engines tuned up, using machines at near capacity, performing operations that reduce the number of trips across the field, avoiding driving machinery at excessive speeds, and sticking or adhering to the manufacturers’ maintenance schedule. In addition, adequate amounts of money need to be put aside towards replacement of old machinery. Improvements in the management and operations of farm machinery could be achieved by replacing all machines that are too old and proving uneconomical to maintain in terms of costs, or performing minor modifications on existing machinery to enhance their operational efficiency. Since much of the farmland is rocky and forest, alternative land use practices could be introduced that generate additional income for the farm. These could include game farming and apiculture (bee keeping).

The introduction of additional livestock enterprises such as goats (which are browsers) can turn the rocky shrub-lands into productive farmland. The problem of unsuitable climate and physical environment for the exotic dairy breeds and their high insect, parasite and disease risk could be addressed by cross breeding exotic breeds with indigenous breeds for particular strains such as such as high disease resistance, temperature, drought and heat tolerance, while maintaining the basic traits of high productivity among the cross-bred animals.