Trymore Tagwirei

An enterprising couple has pioneered organic turmeric farming in Masvingo province, where cultivation of the crop is almost non-existent.

In Zimbabwe, turmeric is mostly grown in the Chimanimani and Chipinge districts of Manicaland province, where conditions are considered more suitable due to higher rainfall and well-drained soils.

In drier Masvingo, however, Timitius Njavha and his wife Margareth are blazing a new trail with the cash crop, which is used as a flavoring and coloring agent in exotic dishes, as well as in the manufacture of cosmetics and herbal medicine.

Based at Desmond Farm in Ward 4 of the Masvingo Rural District, the couple says the future is bright for those who want to venture into the commercial production of the crop.

The Njavhas, who are also ZAOGA pastors, decided to try their hand at turmeric, which they say has huge export potential in overseas markets.

“We lived in South Africa for some time, but we decided to come back home and make use of the land that we have. There are untapped, lucrative markets for turmeric that is grown especially on virgin land without using fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides,” said Timitius.

They noted that the business requires farmers to register with international standards bodies, such as GlobalGAP, and obtain certification to tap into European and Asian markets. The couple explained that although a substantial initial investment is required, the returns are enormous.

“Seed for turmeric, particularly the Lakadong variety, is expensive. We managed to negotiate with the seller and paid US$3 500 for one tonne, which only covered half a hectare,” Margareth said.

The couple urged prospective turmeric farmers to work together and produce in bulk in order to penetrate export markets that require large volumes. The Njavhas emphasized that their turmeric is grown organically to meet the specific international demand for organic produce.