Pic: Eugene Majuru
Veteran journalist Eugene Majuru (EM) currently owns and operates a successful agribusiness in the United Kingdom
(UK). She is balancing work and farming. She is also planning to return home and start a farming business. She believes that there are specific strategies and proactive measures farmers and the Zimbabwean government must adopt in order to sustainably solve the problem of land allocation and ensure food
security.
Agricmania Magazine’s Women in Agriculture initiative allows women to express their ideas and experiences concerning the variety of roles they play in agriculture.
Our reporter, Almot Maqolo (AM) interviewed Majuru (EM) and here are her answers to the questions:
AM: Who is Eugene Majuru?
EM: HRH Princess Eugene Majuru is the Princess of Harare, a descendant of the late great, powerful and spiritual King of Harare, King Mbari of the Shumba Gurundoro clan. The last born in a family of four, born and bred in Harare. Princess Eugene has five special abilities which she uses for her own benefit and to help other people.
AM: We understand you are farming in the UK. How does it feel to farm on foreign land?
EM: It feels so good to be farming on foreign land because we cannot have foreigners farming for us. They are growing the food they want us to eat. So, we know what we want to eat, so we should be in a position to farm for ourselves.
Grow the food that we like, the way we like it, and be in control of what we eat, especially organic food. We know that when the British colonised Zimbabwe, they took a lot of land; they took control of our culture and farming, and they learned a lot from us.
Because they had equipment, they appeared to be doing better than us, but they learned about the season, the crops, and everything else from us. So, it is just good that we are in a foreign land and able to farm as well, because it is something a lot of people think is possible. They are shocked that Zimbabweans are farming on a large scale in the UK. It is not normal for them.
A lot of our own people, mostly Zimbabweans and Africans, are not into farming in the UK; they are into working as care assistants, nurses, and social workers. So, I do hope that a lot of our people will venture into farming because, with farming, that is where the money is. It is always good to make use of the land in the best possible way given to the white people.
They know that the money is in the land. That is why they are always fighting for land. The Chinese are coming to Zimbabwe, grabbing as much land as they can, taking a lot of resources, and I think they are also now into farming. Any other foreigner who comes into Zimbabwe, their interest is in getting the land.
It is time for Zimbabweans and other Africans who are in the UK and other areas where the former colonisers are to get the land as well, you know, make use of the land, and they need to build an empire for their families and the clans for their own African people. We know that the farmers inherited the land from their forefathers.
So, we also want to teach our children and the generations that come after us that land is very important and teach them the skills so that they can take over when we get older and so that farming continues. A lot of people feel that it is challenging to farm in a foreign land. It is true that it is challenging, but one needs to be brave to do that.
When I started, I was using the name Shumba Fresh Produce. Shumba is my totem (Shumba Gurundoro), but then I decided to change the name to Karigamombe because it takes more than that to be farming in a foreign land because it is something that a lot of people are afraid to do. That is why I changed the name to Karigamombe, which means the one that grabs the bull by the horns, meaning that what people think is impossible is very possible.
That is why I started to use the name Karigamombe. It shows that what you think is impossible is achievable, especially if it is done by a woman. So, I feel proud that I am able to do this in a foreign land. It takes a lot of courage, confidence, strength, and determination. The important thing about it all is to continue to do it, but I am working on farming in Zimbabwe.
I am planning to come to Zimbabwe and start farming in the next farming season. I hope to inspire a lot of other people, especially the younger generation, to believe in themselves that they are able to achieve what they want to achieve, to believe in their capabilities and abilities, and to work hard for themselves, especially now where there are not many jobs. Most people are looking for white-collar jobs, but there are none.
So, the best thing to do at the moment is to make great use of the land. If our Zimbabwe government can, I know they already do this; they give land to our people to farm; but if they can encourage the younger generation to take up some land, they give them smaller pieces of land, like one acre, and have areas, they give one acre to each person and encourage them to venture into farming.
I think that would help to have like small plots in various cities, and these plots are managed by I don’t know who can manage them, but surely there should be someone to manage them, maybe the council or something like that, and have people apply for the land and pay a very small amount of money, which is affordable, or even give them for free, and I am sure a lot of people would love that.
They grow their own crops and vegetables, which they can eat or sell, and are able to look after themselves and their families. People are crying about money, food, and problems. So that could help a lot. When they see us, they think we don’t know what we are doing. They think we do not have knowledge about farming because they think they know everything. So, what we know is they learned to farm from us and learned all the skills and most of the staff they are still using in the modern day from our forefathers.
AM: Why did you choose to farm, which many people believe is a job for old and tired minds?
EM: I chose to farm from a very young age. When I was still in primary school, I was into gardening and farming and was already growing crops at the family home, a plot in Harare. I grow various crops. I use onions, carrots, rape, covo, onions, carrots, beans, and mostly maize. I did not have to go to an agricultural school to learn about farming; it comes naturally. I just know what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. I have always been successful in what I grow, and it is great to see the results.
Farming is not for old, tired minds; it is for everyone. It requires skill, ability, calculation, timing, careful thought, and tact. Farming is a profession that should be taken seriously. Not everyone can do it, even though it seems easy. That being said, again, farming is easy. It depends on who is doing it and why they are doing it. An old, tired mind will only want to sleep. How can an old mind grow crops for people? Farming requires thinking, so it can never be for old or tired minds. It is for all age groups. As I was growing up, I was always into farming, even though I was doing other things. I used to work for an international surface company as a financial advisor.
I worked for a news agency, various media, a mobile phone company, I worked in public relations and marketing, I was an athlete, I worked in sports administration, but during all that, the most important thing for me was growing what I eat. I like to eat fresh organic food. That being said, I remember one time I had blood tests done by a doctor in Leicester City. When reading the results, the doctor laughed and said, “I see something interesting from your blood test results.” “I see you eat a lot of vegetables.
It is a good thing though, “he said. Yes, I must admit, I do not enjoy any meal without vegetables. If you invite me for a meal, please make sure you serve me with vegetables. It is a very important part of my life and it means a lot to me. If we had younger farmers, I am sure there would be plenty of food for everyone, especially in our country, Zimbabwe. People tend to think and believe farming is for old people, which is very wrong.
AM: Do you still work in journalism? If so, how do you manage to balance journalism and farming?
EM: I still work in journalism and will always do so. While farming, I came across some news. Farming is time-consuming, and I try to strike a balance to manage both. On the other hand, journalism also requires time as you have to be deeply involved, know exactly what is happening, and remember to remain professional at all times. It requires hard work, dedication, and planning in advance.
For example, in farming, it is now coming to the end of the harvest season, but already we are planning for next year. I am also planning ahead. For example, I am planning to attend the Netball World Cup in South Africa next year. I will travel to South Africa to give moral and financial support to the Zimgems. I am also planning to attend other major international events.
AM: There is the saying that ‘anyone looking to get into agri-business needs to first have a passion for it’ What is your take on this?
EM: It is true that to venture into agribusiness, one needs to have a passion and the know-how. I see a lot of people who wish they could be farmers, but they cannot manage to even take care of a very tiny space of land. When farming, one needs to put their heart, mind, and soul into it.
The advantages of farming are that it is therapeutic, we get lots of fresh air when we are out on the fields, you have to study and know the weather patterns, what soil you will plant on, soil fertility, access to water and a lot more. I feel proud of my achievements as I never had to go to any agricultural college or school to learn to farm. That is not common for many people.
Many people find it hard to believe that a woman like me can be a farmer. They have to come over and see for themselves. I get thousands of requests to come and see it. Many people believe that farming is only for old men. So now the old men are in for some serious completion with me.
AM: What do you love most about farming?
EM: I love farming because it allows me to use my creative mind. It gives me the chance to use my mind and plan what to grow, where and when to do it. I love a lot of fresh air because it provides me with the right environment. I feel so rewarded having to grow my own organic crops and being able to grow crops for other people. With farming, you reap what you sow. The harder you work, the more you can achieve.
AM: What do your days on the farm look like?
EM: A day on the farm is quite busy. I usually plan in advance, but sometimes I have to change plans and accommodate the changes depending on what’s happening or what needs to happen. I have to prioritise what work needs doing first. A day on the farm is quite busy; there is always something that needs doing.
AM: What are your last words?
EM: I would like to encourage many other young people to venture into farming, especially those in the UK. I am appealing to women to join the farmers, as it is a male-dominated field in the UK. My special call is to the ethnic minority to wake up and start growing the crops they would like to eat. Eat healthy and stay alive. Keeping cattle, chickens, and goats is something that many people can venture into.
