Zimbabwean farmers' undercover success stories

Clemence Manyukwe takes a look at the successful operations of three 'undercover' farmers in Zimbabwe, including flower grower Roelof Nugteren, hydroponics farmer Keith Chipudhla, and aquaponics farmer Joe Mugwagwa.

- Clemence Manyukwe

Producing premium roses in greenhouses

Luxaflor Roses, co-owned by horticulture farmer Roelof Nugteren, exports delphiniums and roses to South Africa and the Netherlands. The farm supplies the flower auction in South Africa three times a week.

Nugteren's farm is located in Zimbabwe's Mashonaland Central province and is the country's largest exporter of flowers. All production takes place in greenhouses that have been imported from Europe. Its extensive irrigation systems feature dripper lines that weave throughout the greenhouses.

“Delphiniums and roses are specialised crops that are difficult to grow,” says Nugteren.

Growing these crops in greenhouses allows Nugteren to produce a consistent, uniform and good-quality crop.

He adds that due to the difficulty of growing these crops, having the right infrastructure is a necessity.

“You can’t grow these particular varieties and these crops outdoors. If someone tries to do that, they wouldn't be able to compete at any level against what we're doing,” he says.

“Our greenhouses are very robust and can handle high wind speeds. They are strong and their longevity sets them apart from the traditional greenhouses [found] here [in Zimbabwe]. They can survive 25 years, and they're obviously very [tall] so they keep the temperature relatively stable [due to the] volume of air inside [the greenhouses].”

The greenhouse’s ventilation system allows for the sides and roofs to be opened in order to control temperature and airflow.

Drip irrigation is used, with water drawn from boreholes. This, says Nugteren, is carefully managed to ensure enough water for the production season. Flowers are irrigated early in the morning to allow for maximum efficiency.