Dr Mangudya Pilots New Rural Development Model In Chimanimani

MUTAPA Investment Fund chief executive officer Dr John Mangudya is piloting an innovative rural development model in Chimanimani, linking technology-driven commercial agriculture with surrounding communal farming communities in a project that could offer a new approach to rural industrialisation.

The initiative is anchored on a large-scale agricultural operation equipped with centre pivots, which serves as the hub of a development model that integrates surrounding villagers as its spokes.

Under the hub-and-spokes concept, the commercial agricultural enterprise drives activity in surrounding communities, while the communal farming areas provide complementary economic activity, creating a mutually reinforcing relationship between large-scale agriculture and rural livelihoods.

Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet (Presidential Communications), Mr George Charamba, revealed the project following a recent visit to Chimanimani, where he observed the developments along the Mutambara-Chikukwa-Chimanimani route.

In a post on X, Mr Charamba said the agricultural project, situated along the road to Mutambara High School, had transformed what was previously an undeveloped piece of land into a major, technology-driven farming operation.

The farm reportedly produced more than 500 tonnes of wheat this year and is now preparing for the summer cropping season.

“Today that virgin piece of land has been turned into a huge, hi-tech agricultural proposition, all under centre pivots,” wrote Mr Charamba.

“This year it delivered upwards of 500 tonnes of wheat and is readying itself for the summer crop.

“An upmarket farm village is already in place.

“To the right are small allotments under different crops, including a fairly sizeable stretch under fruit trees.”

Mr Charamba said the project was designed to operate in partnership with surrounding communal farming communities, whose agricultural activities stretch towards Cashel Valley.

He described the arrangement as a reciprocal relationship in which the commercial farming operation provides the hub while surrounding villagers constitute the spokes, with each component supporting the other.

“The hub drives the spokes; the spokes sustain the hub. The relationship is reciprocal, mutually reinforcing in a win-win tango,” he said.

Mr Charamba said the initiative represented a new approach to rural development, with the potential to advance rural industrialisation through the integration of modern commercial agriculture and surrounding rural communities.

“The relationship is reciprocal, mutually reinforcing in a win-win tango. Those who read Development Studies will understand what I am describing!! It is a new model in rural development, possibly rural industrialisation for development,” he added.

The model offers a departure from treating large-scale commercial agriculture and communal farming as separate development activities, instead envisaging their integration into a mutually beneficial rural economic system.