By Killian Manhanhanha – District Extension Officer, Mutoko
Dudzai Mudiwakure is a communal farmer from Ward 09 in Mutoko District, Mashonaland East Province, and a member of the Kurimakufamba Agriculture Producer Group under the Smallholder Agriculture Cluster Project. Like many smallholder farmers in the area, Dudzai faced challenges in generating adequate income from farming due to limited access to improved seed varieties, irrigation equipment and production technologies.
In 2025, through the Smallholder Agriculture Cluster Project, Dudzai received Candella tomato seed and climate smart technical support on tomato production for a demonstration plot. He established his first crop of 1,000 Candella tomato plants using the recommended climate smart agronomic practices promoted by the project. Following the success of the first crop, Dudzai reinvested part of his earnings (US$543) into a second production cycle, increasing his production to 2,000 tomato plants.
The intervention resulted in significant improvements in productivity and household income.
From his first crop, of 1000 plants, Mudiwakure harvested 12,5 tonnes of tomatoes, which he sold and earned a gross income of US$3 658.00. His net income was US$2 123.00. Using the proceeds, the farmer was able to purchase seed for future production, pay school fees for his children and buy additional food items for his family. Mudiwakure also managed to purchase Improve household food security a solar-powered knapsack sprayer and reinvest US$543 into the next production cycle.
For his second crop, Mudiwakure expanded production to 2,000 Candella tomato plant, which gave him a yield of 22.4 tonnes of tomatoes. From the sale of his second crop, Mudiwakure generated US$5,214 in sales and earned a net profit of US$2,976.The increased income enabled the farmer to invest in productive farming assets, including a 1 HP solar water pump, a walking tractor, a 1-hectare drip irrigation kit and 3 solar panels. Mudiwakure reinvested $789 into the third Candella crop of 2000 plants.
These investments have strengthened the sustainability of his farming enterprise by improving irrigation efficiency, reducing labour requirements, and increasing production capacity.
