By Kudakwashe Pembere
IT is impressive noticing that while adolescent girls and young women are better known for what Zimbabweans term “slaying”, a term used for youngsters spending most of their time on social media platforms such as Tik Tok and Instagram, there are some who have ventured into productive activities such as livestock and horticultural farming.
Often times, twins are usually seen as being at each other’s throat but probably this happens when young. That old wives’ tale could be a myth for this set of twins who, when doing their job on the farm, explaining things that happen there, they work like a machine, and with such synchronicity.
These are not the Terrible Twins from the movie The Matrix Reloaded but are so much more the Versatile Twins working synchronously dabbling in various fields of agriculture flawlessly. Aged 25, the Samudzimu twins, Michelle and Charmaine are helping out their parents at their 200-hectare farm in beef farming, and fodder production situated in Goromonzi district.
Aside from the beef and fodder production, they are also into pisciculture which is the commercial breeding of fish, most often for food, in fish tanks or artificial enclosures such as fish ponds. Having studied Financial Management, it is amazing these youngsters are so invested in agriculture as exhibited in their explanations of mushroom production.
Mushrooms are loaded with antioxidants, like vitamin C, selenium, and others. According to nutritionists they are a great source of protein, fibre, and vitamins. They also have lower saturated fat and cholesterol. Mushrooms are a healthy and versatile ingredient that can be a great substitute for beef in many dishes. They are lower in fat, cholesterol, and calories, while still offering valuable nutrients. However, if you’re looking for a complete protein source, beef can be a good option. The best approach is to incorporate both in moderation for a well-rounded diet.
With makeup on, donning tracksuits and some sneakers, one would be left with their jaws sweeping the floor in awe when these youngsters start oozing their expertise in mushroom farming. Charmaine explains the mushroom production, to an extent that she deserves or better yet earned herself the title, mushroom specialist. She states that the mushroom production starts with composting.
“We need to heat up the compost and keep it at 60 degrees Celsius for six hours. This pasteurizes the compost. It sterilizes it. It kills any micro-organisms that will compete with the growth of the fungus. Mussels are fungus.
“So, we sterilize it in this room, six hours at 60 degrees Celsius. And then to condition it, we gradually decrease the temperatures until we get to our divided spawning temperature, which is 25 degrees Celsius. That’s the day that we plant the mussels into bags,” she says.
Charmaine adds, “Not only are we doing this mushroom production, but we have been helping our mother in various areas of agriculture which we could have shared much if we had time.”
Charmaine’s twin sister Michelle says the oyster mushroom business started three years ago. As the oyster mushroom became successful, they went on to invest in button mushroom which they have been doing successfully for the past 2 years.
At the moment the young mushroom farmers are doing their marketing locally with hopes of exporting beyond Zimbabwe’s borders.
“Currently, it’s just the local market. We are content with the local market because the price is good, the demand is good, so currently we’re not exporting, but hopefully in the near future, like maybe two or three years from now, we can get to the stage where we’re exporting and taking our produce to neighbouring countries,” says Michelle.
Michelle encourages other young women to avoid procrastinating and start their ventures, be they in agriculture or any other field of their choice.
“Honestly, just start. I think a lot of people want to try and align everything and put their ducks in a row, but one thing you need to do, and you need to learn in life is that if you just open the door, just start, do something, then you can figure out how you’re going to progress from there.
“If you contemplate for too long, you will end up not doing anything at all. You find a lot of people will say they’re going to do something, maybe they’ll wait two or three years until they actually do it. So, if you find something that you’re interested in and particularly passionate about, then just give it a go,” she continues.
Intimidation in the industry does not bother Michelle who works alongside her twin sister, her mum and her father. For them, just having people who are there to back them up (their parents) every step of the way, the journey has become a lot easier. Most young farmers suffer from the lack of a good, strong support system.
There are various organisations such as the African Women in Animal Resource Farming and Agri-Business Network Zimbabwe (AWAFAR-N) that also assist women in farming with logistical support in their operations. Locally, AWAFAR-N Zimbabwe is a network group of women established in 2018 with the goal to assist women in various issues such as capacitation, fundraising amongst other things.
The chairperson of AWAFAR Ms Jackie Gowe, an avid, established beekeeper explains their network is very woman friendly as they discuss solutions on various issues. She states the network of women much like home, providing even psychosocial support.
“Awafar is very important to us because it’s bringing like-mindedness women together and we are looking for ways to help each other. So, where someone has been weak, you find a strong person, so you have another woman to lean on.
“We do simple things like meetings, and we allow mothers with babies to come with their babies, while grandmothers with grandchildren can also come with the kids. We are very informal, and we want to help everyone regardless of their situation,” she says.