About The Organization

Image placeholder

The Farmer Talk Club (TFT) is a not for profit, membership based organization, bringingtogether farmers, agricultural professionals and agriculture value chain actors together toshare knowledge and information with a view to increasing their production, productivityandprofitability.

The Club is duly registered as Trust, The Farmer Talk Trust with the Registrar of Deeds under Protocol No. MA 597 /2021.

TFT draws its mandate from the different agriculture value chain actors whose diverseinterest converge on one main agenda – the desire for the different players in the sector tocreate wealth, realizing that all the players are dependent on one another and as such needeach other to be prosperous. That realization of this dependence on each other betweenfarmers, agricultural professionals and all the agricultural value chain actors brings withit, a beautiful synergy, that defines who we are at TFT.

TFT is guided by three main principles - Transformation, Transparency andSustainability. All our programs and activities are continuously guided by these principles and drive us towards the attainment of our vision.

The club currently has close to 2000 members, with plans to increase to over 100,000members by 2025. Over 90% of our members are tobacco farmers.

OUR OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the Trust shall be:

  • Facilitate, promote and advance the interests of agricultural professionals, small scale, resettled and commercial farmers and all agricultural value chain actors in Zimbabwe toenhance agricultural production at the highest levels.
  • To facilitate the training of members in agricultural best practices in order to improve thequality and quantity of production among members.
  • To facilitate the formation of Farmer Field Schools (FFS) so as to foster a cultureofcontinuous learning and knowledge sharing and adoption of farming best practices amongfarmers.
  • To promote productive land use through the production of various livestock and crops soastoensure sustainability of farmers and ensure that the country meets its production targets
  • To promote the formation of farmers Pacts, Clusters, districts and Provincial and producersClubs
  • To collect, provide and disseminate, among its members and other information andadvicerelating to the farming industry through the Club’s own or any other newspaper or anyothermanner
  • To facilitate and encourage pooling of resources through formation of a Savings and Credit Cooperative so as to assist with capital within and among members of the Club.
  • To facilitate and work with government through responsible ministries and to ensuremembers have access to land and resources among others.
  • To encourage, promote and provide constructive and specific measures for the promotionanddevelopment of value addition through processing of the crop to assure members of maximumreturns on their farming enterprises.
  • To assist with farm mechanization by assisting members in sourcing funds to purchase farmimplements and machinery.
  • To work with government and non-governmental extension and research services for thebenefit of members
  • To prevent deforestation of farming areas by encouraging members to join tree plantingschemes promoted by the Forestry Commission and to lobby coal merchants to deliver coal tothe provinces, districts and area Clubs for tobacco curing.
  • To explore and promote avenues for marketing of members crop through promotionof thevarious value chains within the sector
  • To lobby legislators and other policy makers on behalf of the members in line withtheirinterests and to express the views of those engaged in the agricultural industry so as tomakebetter known to the government its various agencies and to the general public, conditions andchallenges facing the sector.
  • To promote cooperation among its members in their farming ventures.
  • To maintain a database of its members, collect statistics and other information on farmingissues affecting or concerned with farmers and agriculture in general.
Image placeholder

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

The organisation is structured in the following way

  • Trustees - These are the custodians of the assets of the Trust. Trustees shall be appointed by the foundersof the organisation for a period of 5 years and shall be eligible for re-appointment by the majority of votes for a further period of 5 years renewable every 5 years.
  • Board of Advisors (Executive Board) - The purpose of the Executive Board is to provide leadership and strategic directionof theorganisation. The Board is lead by the Chairperson who, together with the boardareresponsible for the appointment of the CEO and senior management of the organisation. Thesize of the board will be determined by the various technical skills required for the effectiverunning of the organisation. It will also include 4 regional chairpersons who will be electedfrom the 4 tobacco growing provinces of the country. Further more, 3 more associatemembers of the organisation will second their own chairmen, who will constitutetheExecutive Board. The Chairman of the Board will always be drawn fromassociate membersof the organisation
  • The Regional Executives - There shall be four Regions in line with the for tobacco growing regions in Zimbabwe. Eachof these will have their own committees and the chair person of each of these regions will bea member of the Executive Board.
  • Secretariat - Led by the CEO, this is responsible for the day to day running of the Trust

KEY MANAGEMENT

TFT has a strong management team who are seasoned professionals with varied backgrounds in agriculture, economics, marketing, financial management and business administration and agribusiness management among others.

These Include:

  • Mr Phineas Mukomberanwa (48) – Chief Executive Officer – EMBA (MSU), DME (UZ). MCILT (UK) - Harvard Business School and ACCION trained Financial Inclusion specialist, Phineas has a deep understanding of the agriculture and financial services sector. He has specialist knowledge in value chain financing, agricultural and rural financing as well as productivity sector financing.

    Phineas is one of the founders of TFT. Before founding TFT, he had a brief stint at Zimbabwe Progressive Tobacco Farmers Association where he was appointed as Executive Director. In 2010, he spearheaded the formation of First Choice Finance (FCF), a microfinance institution that rapidly grew to be a household name in the provision of small loans to the urban and rural economically active poor. Prior to joining FCF he was employed by World Vision where he was responsible for implementing a number of relief and development projects for over 5 years. Phineas is also credited with the successful start up and setting up of systems and structures at Silver Stars both in Zimbabwe and South Africa where the company has its Head Office. He has also worked with such organisations as FSI Petroleum, and National Breweries among others. Phineas is mandated with the building of TFT to be a world-class organisation. He is a holder of an Executive Masters in Business Administration (EMBA) from the MSU among several other qualifications.

  • Mr Amos Kambare (49) – Director for training and Farmer Field Schools - With over 25 years of hands on experience in the tobacco sector, Amos has contributed immensely to the science of tobacco production in Zimbabwe. : Prof as he is known at TFT is the Director for training and Farmer Field Schools. He is also a Training Officer at the Tobacco Research Board. Mr Kambare has over 25 years of hands on tobacco production experience. Mr Kambare is a holder of a diploma in tobacco production from Blackforby college among other formal qualifications
  • Mr Kumbirai Mukomberanwa (37) – Business Development - Kumbirai is a holder of both Master’s and Bachelor’s Degree in Crop Science with the University of Zimbabwe and a diploma in Agriculture from Gwebi Agricultural College passing with whopping first classes. Furthermore, Kumbirai has over 10 years working experience in the agricultural industry, 5 of which were in tobacco production.
  • Miss Buhlebenkosi Ncube – Administration - Buhle is an agronomist par excellence who holds a first class bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics and Development Studies from Midlands State University. Buhle has over 3 years’ agronomy experience and has 2-years worth of extensive knowledge on seedling production both float tray system and conventional system.