Mushandi Holdings is passionate about ethical and sustainable agriculture with a focus on the long term. Through innovation and determination we have established ourselves as one of Zimbabwe’s premier exporters, and we take great pride in that fact. Here are a few other things that we take pride in and which are essential to the Mushandi way:
Protecting the Environment
Successful environmental management forms the foundation of profitable long-term agricultural projects, so at Mushandi we take environmental protection very seriously. Crop rotation, lay cropping and annual soil analyses are just some of the measures we take towards keeping our soils in prime condition. We also build our roads, drainage systems and waterways in a manner that ensures minimal erosion, and we grow natural grass absorption zones outside of cropping areas to ensure clean runoff into the river system. This runoff is regularly tested for heavy metals and chemicals. Strict firebreaks are in place to limit unnecessary burning, and we have a ‘Zero Tolerance’ policy of cutting down trees, in line with Environmental protection Authority of Zimbabwe regulations. We have also undertaken impact surveys to determine the effect our setup has on the environment.
Healthy, Quality Produce
Our produce is our pride and joy. From broccoli to blueberries, we do our utmost to ensure consistent, healthy quality, not just good yields. Integrated pest management is practised on all crops, with pesticides and fungicides used safely in accordance with EU regulations. When packaged, our produce is marked with codes that allow it to be traced right back to its source, even to the specific block it came from. This is essential to our ability to respond to feedback once the produce has been distributed.
Social Responsibility
People are a business’s biggest asset, and at Mushandi it's the people who work for us and the local community who are important. We take a humanitarian approach to fostering great relations with our workers and with the people who live close to us. We make sure the local clinic and schools are maintained to a high standard, and we engage with community elders and chiefs to ensure African culture, traditions and social structures are being respected and observed at Mushandi. We also work closely with new farmers in the area, providing knowledge, operational support and skills transfer.
The education of our workers’ children is a high priority for us, and we facilitate the payment of fees for them. We’ve also constructed creche facilities onsite where paid child minders care for our workers children free of charge. We also invest in the education of our workers themselves, with selection training and promotional programs in place to ensure workplace succession.
Discrimination is not tolerated and we employ people regardless of religion, gender or illness. We place just as high a priority on health as on education, so AIDS awareness programs and family planning clinics are regularly held and are free of charge to attend.
Student Attachment Program
Our Student Attachment Program is testament to our commitment to the future of agriculture in Zimbabwe. Ongoing for 20 years now and fully funded by Mushandi, we take in 10 students per year from Zimbabwean colleges and universities. The students are trained in all aspects of our operations, from land preparation and fertilising to packing and grading. They then compile a full report which is analysed by our senior management and their own institution, who provide them with a grade. This program has proved very rewarding to students, and many graduates have since taken up employment at Mushandi.