Talent Muronza is a 25-year-old mother of 2 daughters, who lives in Gokwe North. Growing up she had a strong passion for farming, particularly horticultural products. She carried that passion to her matrimonial home where she established a garden.
In that garden, she managed to acquire experience in growing crops like tomatoes, sugar beans, okra, watermelons, butternuts and cucumbers among others. However, from all her efforts and hard work she would get little yields of poor quality. These products were difficult to sale and would fetch meagre income.
The inception of REDAA project in Gokwe North captivated this youthful woman to register and be part of the project participants. What fascinated her most was the FAP concept. She would attend all the training sessions which were conducted by Nutrition Action Zimbabwe.
“I learnt that to maximize yields of flowering plants there must be an abundance of a variety of wild pollinators. This can be enhanced by ensuring that flowering of crops occurs at the same time, hence planting must be sequenced to enable different crops to flower at the same time,” Talent said.
“The vast number of pollinators increases the chances of pollinating all the flowers on all crops thereby ensuring successful pollination. I also learnt on the importance of preserving wild pollinators.”
With this vast knowledge Talent had attained, she decided to put all the concepts into practice. She followed the planting calendar according to seed agronomists’ advice on planting crops. To preserve pollinators, the farmer abstained from using agricultural chemicals to control pests.
“I would use chili extracts to spray my crops to control aphids, fruit flies and other leaf eating insects. The results were impressive, with high yields. What I like the most was the size of fruits I harvested,” she pointed out.
“Before employing FAP concept to my farming activities, I would get very few fruits of smaller sizes. However, after implementing the techniques I was taught, a single watermelon would suffice my whole family where previously one would not be enough.
“I wish all the surrounding communities would adopt FAP concept as it improves yield quantity and quality” said Talent Muronza in her parting words.
This she has attributed only to pollination success. Furthermore, the quality of the fruits from FAP plots has made it easier for her to sale the crops at fairly high prices.