This Land (Ongoing)
2023
This Land is an ongoing multimedia research project about Zimbabwean women’s diverse participation in agriculture against the backdrop of gender biases in the agricultural sector and climate change. My Mainini, Martha Gorimani, one of my mother’s younger sisters, inspired the project.
Through documentary photography, audio files, and short videos, the project seeks to explore how different categories of women combat gender stereotypes shaping the women, agriculture, and climate change discourse in Zimbabwe.
The project aims to go beyond the prevailing harmful narratives in this discourse which construct women through the “unknowing rural woman smallholder farmer victim” trope. This Land demonstrates that Zimbabwe women are knowledgeable agents of change and opportunity within their communities.
Martha Gorimani
Based in Chikomba, Mashonaland East, Martha Gorimani has a thriving medium-sized farm stretching over 200 hectares. As a female head of house, her passion for agriculture stems from her childhood as her parents were farmers in Nyanga. She has plenty of livestock including cows, sheep, goats, lamb, fish, guinea fowl, turkey and chicken. She supplies maize, finger millet ,soya beans, brown wild rice, sunflowers seeds, honey, and kidney beans to individual households, retailers, and the Grain Marketing Board. Her love of farming is coupled knoweldge and deep committment to protecting indigenous trees.
Indigenous Trees and Food Systems
Martha shares her knowledge of indigenous tree which bear Hacha/Chakata fruit
Tsitsi Mugweni
Co-owner of Makumbiri farm, Tsitsi is a female farmer living in a male-headed household based in Mvurwi, Mashonaland Central. She mainly manages the farm operations along with an agronomist, and 20-plus permanent farm workers. The couple purchased their large-scale commercial farm from a white farmer in 2000. At the time of purchase, only 10 hectares were under tobacco production. Over time they diversified the crops and livestock on the property to include paprika, cows, and pigs. Currently, they are expanding their 10-hectare macadamia plantation and nursery. In May 2023, the Makumbiri Farm hosted a Macadamia Farming Open Day. In addition to showcasing their nursery, information sessions on all stages ( seeding to exportation) of macadamia farming were held.
Enviola Nyakudya
Enviola wears multiple hats. She is an agriculture technical and extension officer and an A2 farmer. She is also a prominent community leader. As the head of her household, she manages farm operations and has at two permanent staff. Her main crops include maize and soya beans. Enviola is also a poultry farmer.
Globally, 15% of extension agents are women (Beevi et al, 2018:1035). Enviola is one of the female extension advisors in Zimbabwe. She services 3 large districts in Mashonaland West.
Enviola shares her experience agriculture technical and extension officer and an A2 farmer.
