A MATABELELAND North province small-scale farmer has urged rural communities to adopt a business-oriented approach to agriculture, saying farming can be a powerful tool for wealth creation if properly managed.
Speaking during a virtual discussion organised by the Bubi Community Parliament on Wednesday, Ken Ndlovu shared his academic and professional journey, highlighting how education has shaped his approach to farming.
“I hold a BSc in Agriculture Resources Management, where I specialised in Soil Science, and later pursued an MSc in Crop Science and 21st Century Agronomy at the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom, one of the top universities in the Russell Group,” he said.
“My research focused on soil management and arable crops, which continues to influence my work today.”
Ndlovu also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Education, qualifying him as a lecturer in Agriculture with a focus on arable crop science.
Despite his academic achievements, he remains actively involved in small-scale farming in Bubi district, where he keeps cattle and goats while cultivating crops on a modest plot.
Drawing from both lived experience and academic training, Ndlovu said rural homesteads have the potential to become viable business centres.
“Growing up in areas like Janke, we saw families running large-scale farming operations using cattle for draught power, producing enough to supply the Grain Marketing Board,” he said.
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“Those families generated significant income, educated their children and sustained livelihoods through farming.”
He noted that similar opportunities still exist today through ventures such as broiler production, goat farming and improved cattle breeds, which can generate income if managed effectively.
However, Ndlovu expressed concern over a growing trend where rural properties are developed into expensive homes that do not generate income.
“Many people are building beautiful houses in rural areas but not living in them or using them productively.
“These are not investments but liabilities, especially without title deeds to make them tradable assets.”
He added that fears around Zimbabwe’s healthcare system and poor infrastructure often discourage diaspora-based owners from returning to settle permanently in rural homes, leaving properties
underutilised.
Ndlovu also emphasised the importance of farmer involvement in day-to-day operations, warning against over-reliance on poorly incentivised labour.
“A farmer must be boots on the ground,” he said.
“Paying workers without corresponding productivity leads to losses.
“Farming is a business that requires direct supervision and accountability.”
He suggested alternative payment models, including livestock-based remuneration, where workers can be paid through cattle or goats annually, depending on agreed terms."
On production, Ndlovu urged farmers to embrace co-ordinated farming, diversification and value addition to improve profitability.
“Farmers must work together to control supply, avoid market gluts and stabilise prices.
“There is also need for investment in cold storage and proper transport systems to reduce post-harvest losses.”
The Bubi-based farmer highlighted irrigation and greenhouse farming as key to ensuring year-round production, while also encouraging farmers to explore value addition, such as processing tomatoes when market prices are low.
Ndlovu further called for a shift from subsistence to commercial thinking, stressing the need for bookkeeping and financial discipline.
“Farmers must understand whether they are making a profit or a loss.
“Keeping livestock or crops without tracking performance is no longer sustainable.”
He also warned against leaving productive land idle.
“Land must be used productively. Idle land is a missed opportunity for both income generation and food security.”
On generational wealth, Ndlovu said many African families fail to involve children in business operations, resulting in the collapse of enterprises when parents pass on.
“Children must be taught how businesses operate from a young age. That is how sustainable wealth is built,” he said.
Ndlovu encouraged aspiring farmers to start small and learn through experience.
“It is better to start and fail than not to start at all.
“Every setback is a lesson.
“But ultimately, real success requires being present and actively involved.”
The discussion highlighted the untapped potential of rural agriculture and the need for strategic thinking to transform it into a sustainable economic driver.
