Turning the Dust of Mutimurefu Prison into a Green Gold Mine with Covo Rugare Gold PLUS
In the heart of Masvingo Province,Zimbabwe, Mutimurefu Prison is demonstrating how quality seed can be a powerful tool in attaining food security and economic abundance. What was once an unproductive piece of land has become a thriving field of Avanos Seeds' Covo Rugare Gold PLUS, where an ‘ordinary’ indigenous vegetable is delivering extraordinary value.
Established primarily to feed inmates, the prison planted just 0.25 hectares of Covo Rugare Gold PLUS. This modest field has since evolved into a model of productive farming that is inspiring and rewarding institutions, farmers, and communities alike.
The prison's agronomist, CO3 Mashocha, claims the crop has consistently exceeded expectations. The quarter-hectare field produces an average of 1.5 tonnes of fresh covo every week, providing enough vegetables to feed all inmates, leaving a significant surplus for the prison staff, with the excess sold to the surrounding community.
Beyond providing important fresh produce to the prison, the project has generated significant financial benefits. Over a harvesting period of more than six months, the value of the vegetables produced on this quarter hectare plot exceeded US$10,000. Instead of relying on purchased vegetables, the institution now produces a consistent excess from its own fields, showcasing how vision and quality seed combined can create food security,long-term savings and even provide sustained income.
Mutimurefu Prison's modest enterprise demonstrates that a quarter-hectare can provide vegetable produce worth many thousands of dollars. Market gardeners and commercial farmers alike can benefit in similar ways, turning a seemingly humble indigenous vegetable crop into a highly successful business model.