By Joyce Mukucha
Through the unwavering support from the Women in Agriculture Union (WAU), a new dawn is promising for a dedicated and passionate female farmer in Ward 10, Beatrice, Rose Munguni through her trial for Sunn Hemp, a tropical Asian plant of the legume family which is generally considered to have many benefits and uses for individuals and the country at large.
Researches highlight that as a warm-season cover crop legume grown in low fertility sandy soils, Sunn Hemp increases soil organic matter, provides nitrogen and can be used for feeding livestock and for medical purposes.
In an interview, after her Sunn Hemp farm tour in Beatrice on Monday, Munguni told journalists that she was hopeful that the new crop project will help her to become financially stable and ensure that her family lives a decent life.
Munguni extended her gratitude to WAU for supporting her work and for empowering other female farmers to achieve their dreams.
“For me, Sunn Hemp is important in the sense that when I sell it, I can be able to sustain my family as well as supporting my husband in whatever situation that requires money. Sunn Hemp also plays a critical role as it contributes to boosting our country’s economy and helps us as a nation to reduce the rate of importing products.
“I urge my fellow women to also follow these traits and quit a spirit of hesitancy. Out of a group with hundreds of women, I’m the only one who managed to show interest in Sunn Hemp farming after it was posted on a WhatsApp group. I did a little bit of research before planting it. Look where I’m now! I’m proud of myself. On this crop, I can harvest 4 to 6 tonnes per hectare per month and earn $USD70 per every 10kg.”
Munguni also pleaded to the government to work tirelessly to ensure that no third party is involved when it comes to selling the product as she indicated that it was of paramount importance to sell the new crop locally, thereby helping Zimbabwe as a nation to enjoy value addition.
“We are pleading to the government to step in and assist with every measure possible to help us in research so that we can be able to sell this sunn hemp here in Zimbabwe.”
WAU founder and chairperson, Olga Nhari said Sunn Hemp cropping was a good project for women considering that it requires less labour yet having the possibility of bringing more positive results.
Considering that the market of Sunn Hemp is in Europe, Nhari said the union was striving to take a step further to find out what the seed goes on to make in the European countries and reiterated the need to be able to export the finished products.
She urged women to venture into the project. She said her organisation is committed to continuing extending support to women to ensure that those at the grassroots level are also reached, included and imparted with farming knowledge.
“For us as WAU, the success of this woman doing Sunn Hemp is something that we can spread to other women. This Sunn Hemp is also used as livestock feed and to cure the soil for the farmers.
“This a very good project we have realised for women. It is also not labour intensive as we learnt today that you don’t have to weed it. It fights weeds on its own and it doesn’t require fertilizer. It’s something so easy for women to venture into and it would be great if all women were to take it on board and be able to produce the Sunn Hemp for their livestock whilst at the same time curing their soil,” she said.
Additionally, Nhari highlighted the need for extensive farming research in Zimbabwe, explaining that it will help farmers to have diverse knowledge about a variety of crops.
“As women, we are saying we are tired of exporting raw materials. So it is something we have taken upon ourselves to do further research to find out what else can be done to this Sunn Hemp. We can use research institutions to acquire more knowledge.”
Addressing women who attended the event, Nhari said WAU will also support women through availing of resources. She hailed them for playing an important role in using their natural talents and encouraged them to aim higher.
“Let’s not stop there. We are capable of doing more. Let’s encourage each other to work cooperatively and desist from a tendency of feeling jealous of another woman. Let’s strive to understand and support one another as well as celebrating others’ success.”
However, Nhari also bemoaned the lack of coordination amongst women. She said it was a major challenge hindering them from succeeding and achieving most of their goals.
“We have support from the Government but the problem is we are not coordinated. Again, women are lagging behind because they think that they know everything and also doubt themselves and hesitate to join projects like Sunn hemp farming. Today, I challenge you to learn, accept that you don’t know everything and grab opportunities, give it a try, and speak with one voice.”
WAU Administrator, Audrey Nhari said much as the export market is important in bringing foreign currency into the country, there was also a need for farmers to have a wider knowledge of the means of processing Sunn Hemp here in Zimbabwe.
“It helps if we process these products through value addition.This ensures that we get more out of our products, labour and inputs than just selling raw materials,” she said.
She added that empowered and equipped researches play a crucial role in teaching farmers different important farming aspects.
Knowledge, she said, saves money, time and maximises production.
“We lack research and we are calling upon our government to fund research so that we can have more databases that can help farmers to know more about the crops, soil quality among other important farming aspects.
“We will continue pushing to ensure that our farmers have broad information and knowledge as it helps both the farmer and the nation at large.”
Ward 10 Agritex Officer, Tyson Mupinga said more female farmers should consider growing Sunn Hemp to keep the soil healthy and productive.
Sunn hemp is a rapidly growing plant that can produce 12 to 14 tonnes of dry above-ground biomass per hectare. The plant has got tall bright yellow flowers and roots that form numerous lobed nodules.