Chako Kashangura
3672 Flamboyant Road, Muzari Extension, Chinhoyi,Zimbabwe
Summary
- An Agriculturist specialising in Horticulture production in Africa, with over 25 years' experience in the fruit, cut-flower, vegetable and oil seed industries mainly for export or processing.
- With more than 5 years' experience in plant breeding working with annual and perennials in the cut flower industry, seed production and multiplication in the oil seed industry
- Experience covers intensive commercial production, Out-growers/ Contract Farming and Small scale farming with more than 5 years in Oilseed crop production using latest mechanisation technologies and techniques
- More than 2 years' experience working in an Agro-oil processing industry I have an understanding of the latest seed laws and international regulations governing seed production.
- I have worked in the private and development sectors.
- I have experience in greenfield projects having setup and operated an automated digital irrigation and propagation system in Tanzania.
- I have scaled up cut-flower and fruit projects in Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Mozambique.
- I have increased productivity for small scale rural farmers in Mozambique and Zimbabwe in Oil seeds and Horticulture production for export.
- I have operated grain cleaning plants for Sesame, Pulses and Maize in Mozambique. And managed export logistics by sea.
- My experience also involves business development in the form of technical input into business plans and financial forecasts for Capital raising projects.
- I have working knowledge in 3 different African countries and regions and fluent in English and Portuguese
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Agronomy Coordinator (Horticulture)
Technoserve
01.2023 - Current
- Company Overview : A social development enterprise aiming at developing thriving, sustainable communities by providing business solutions to poverty
- Coordinating Export vegetable operations by small holder and commercial farmers in the Midlands region for the EU Market
- Up scaling operations to +300Ha of year round vegetable production for export and local markets
- Strengthening capacity of farmer groups to commercialise operations
- Developing, executing and reviewing group-specific business plans to ensure sustainable year round production
- Complying with Good Agricultural Practices and certifications ie GlobalGAP, SMETA
- Preparing and leading GlobalG.A.P audits for the schemes
- Capacitating Farmer Trainers, Government Extension Officers, Lead farmers and private sector actors
- Implementing recommended commercial models to meet volumes, quality and yield targets
- Mainstreaming a regenerative approach to production
- Stakeholder management and MEL Reporting
- Packhouse Management
- Managed project timelines for successful completion, ensuring milestones were met and deadlines were adhered to.
- CROPS - Mange Tout, Sugar Snaps, Fine beans, Chilies & Baby Corn
Agronomist /Horticulturist
Surface Wilmar
05.2018 - 10.2022
- Company Overview : Large Scale Commercial Farming Model Producing oil Seeds (Castor Bean, Soya Beans and Sesame Seeds) through joint ventures with commercial farmers guaranteed by the Ministry Of Lands and Agriculture
- Technology and skills transfer to ensure farmers continue sustainable production after the JV expiration
- Contract signing, resource mobilization and demobilization in 4 different provinces and multi-site farms
- Supervising third party contracted tillage operators in tillage, planting, spraying and fertilizer application
- Supervising Agronomic practices and adherence to GAP, Health and Safety protocols
- Supervising harvesting, shelling, bagging and transportation of harvested produce to central warehousing
- Instrumental in the diversification of the project from Commercial to Small scale Communal farmers working with Women's Bank, Sacco's and other partners
- Assisted farmers in implementing improved cultivation techniques, resulting in increased productivity and profitability.
- Developed strong professional relationships with clients, earning their trust and ensuring ongoing opportunities for collaboration in the future.
- Developed customized nutrient management plans to optimize plant health and yield potential.
- CROPS - Oil seeds (Sesame,Soya Beans,Cotton,Sunflower, and Castor Beans)
Diversification Project Manager
Matanuska Mocambique Lda
05.2017 - 02.2018
- Company Overview: A Rift Valley holdings company involved in the Production of Bananas for export under irrigation
- Successfully managed multiple projects simultaneously by prioritizing tasks according to urgency, resource availability, and alignment with organizational goals.
- Established effective communication among team members for enhanced collaboration and successful project completion.
- Monitored progress against established goals, adjusting schedules and resources as needed to keep projects on track.
- Planning, organising and executing the 2nd phase pineapple trial
- Providing input to the Business Analyst for the production and financial forecast models; as well as input into the writing of business plans for use in capital raising
- Doing desktop studies for potential new varieties to diversify the project and spread risk
- CROPS - Bananas, Pineapples
Engineering Services Manager
Matanuska Mocambique Lda
04.2016 - 04.2017
- Company Overview: A Rift Valley holdings company involved in the Production of Bananas for export under irrigation
- Responsible for the planning, organisation and execution of all Engineering projects on the farm
- This involved; Workshops (tractors, light and heavy vehicles and equipment), infrastructure (pump houses, packhouses, buildings and fences), roads and drainage, electrical work (High and Low voltage)
- Instituted preventive maintenance programs that significantly reduced equipment downtime and increased overall productivity.
- Management of a 57 Million Cubic Masonry Dam and all associated downstream infrastructure and activities.
Technical Services and Development Manager
Matanuska Mocambique Lda
02.2015 - 04.2016
- Company Overview: A Rift Valley holdings company involved in the Production of Bananas for export under irrigation
- Responsible for all the technical aspects of Banana production on close to 1000Ha
- Providing production departments with data and analysis for decision making and weekly production planning
- Running R&D trials on farm and in collaboration with external institutes/ universities
- Providing local authorities with weather and dam data
- Running the Banana nursery producing +/-20Ha seedling per week
- Redesigned the nursery to receive and produce Tissue culture plants resistant to FoC TR4 (+/-10Ha per week)
- In vivo and in vitro plants
- Overseeing on site Laboratory screening based on performance (yield taste and disease resistance) and monitoring FoC TR4 disease progress
- Running trials on different resistant clonal varieties and providing feedback to Tissue culture labs, research institutes and other stakeholders
- Received training at Dole operations in La Ceiba Honduras in Pineapple production
- This included Tissue culture production and selection processes, Land preparation, production to grading
- Received and established 1st phase of the Pineapple projected in collaboration with Dole, providing Dole technical team with regular updates and growth habits and adaptability of their variety
Project Manager
Corredor Agro Lda
12.2012 - 02.2015
- Company Overview: Company established with a Vision to link Small scale farmers with Local, regional and International markets
- Working with USAID funded IFDC in the Cassava + project
- Seed multiplication and dissemination of improved varieties (Cassava and Pigeon peas)
- Co-ordinating with Research Institute (IIAM) for improved plant material, knowledge/technology transfer and experience sharing
- Carrying out trials and establishing demo plots
- Coordinating harvest and distribution with processors
- Regular review meeting to measure funders specifications and targets
- CROPS - Cassava, Oilseeds and Pulses
Project Manager
Makota Flowers Limited
02.2008 - 10.2011
- Company Overview: Developing and managing a previously abandoned farm under private investment
- Establishing an Export Flower setup under the theme “Re-introducing Summer Flower production in Iringa, Tanzania” funded by the Dutch government
- Installation of a computerised automated irrigation system and propagation facility multiplying tissue culture plants in vivo received from Holland
- Acquiring Global GAP certification
- Diversified Project into Export Vegetables
- CROPS - Mange Tout Peas, Sugar snap Peas, and Cut Flowers
General Manager
Claremont Estates
01.2007 - 01.2008
- Managing an Estate producing Cut flower, Fruit and fish production for export and the local market
- Reporting to the board on performance and budgets
- Crops produced included Potatoes, Cutflowers, Apples, Pears, Peaches, Nectarines, Plums, Kiwi
Technical Divisional Manager
Claremont Estates
04.2003 - 01.2007
- Responsible for all technical aspects of Cutflower and Fruit production
- Responsible for Certification to GlobalGap
- Budgets and procurement of Crop inputs
Education
Horticulture
Chipinge College Of Horticulture
Chipinge08.1996
Skills
- Advanced Excel
- MS office
- Multitasking and organization
- Decision-making
- Presenting ideas and plans
- Staff management
- Best practices implementation
- Budget planning
- Contract management
- Operations management
Personal Information
- Available: One Month
- Date of Birth: 08/30/74
- Nationality: Zimbabwean
- Marital Status: Married
Certificatescourses
- Certificate In Crop Protection, BASIS (Registration) Ltd, Real-IPM, Zambia (Coleacp Program), 2006
- Fertiliser Advisers Certification & Training Scheme (FACTS), BASIS (Registration) Ltd, 2006
- GLOBAL G.A.P. Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) V6- PLANTS F&V Training, agMOOCs, 2020
- Integrated Pest Management, Centre For Development Of Technical Education (IIT Kanpur), 2021
- Conservation Agriculture-based Sustainable Intensification (CASI), Centre For Development Of Technical Education (IIT Kanpur), 2021
- Fundamentals of Agricultural Extension, Centre For Development Of Technical Education (IIT Kanpur), 2021
- Entrepreneurship Development, Centre For Multi-Disciplinary Development Research (CMDR) 2024
Accomplishments
- Reduced synthetic pesticide usage by 30% by implementing IPM strategies and practices
- Successfully diversified a cut-flower concern into an export going concern
- Successfully introduced new crops as a risk management strategy and project diversification.
- Increased small holder productivity through trainings, monitoring and adoption of new production techniques
-
Certification
Zimbabwe Driver's License
Languages
Shona
Native language
English
Proficient
C2
Swahili
Advanced
C1
Portuguese
Upper intermediate
B2
Timeline
Agronomy Coordinator (Horticulture)
Technoserve
01.2023 - Current
Agronomist /Horticulturist
Surface Wilmar
05.2018 - 10.2022
Diversification Project Manager
Matanuska Mocambique Lda
05.2017 - 02.2018
Engineering Services Manager
Matanuska Mocambique Lda
04.2016 - 04.2017
Technical Services and Development Manager
Matanuska Mocambique Lda
02.2015 - 04.2016
Project Manager
Corredor Agro Lda
12.2012 - 02.2015
Project Manager
Makota Flowers Limited
02.2008 - 10.2011
General Manager
Claremont Estates
01.2007 - 01.2008
Technical Divisional Manager
Claremont Estates
04.2003 - 01.2007
Zimbabwe Driver's License
Horticulture
Chipinge College Of Horticulture
Similar Profiles
Annette BogereAnnette Bogere
Project Director at TechnoServeProject Director at TechnoServe
Aaron NkondoAaron Nkondo
Snr. Food Technologist at TechnoServeSnr. Food Technologist at TechnoServe
Sabina MwambaSabina Mwamba
GRANTS MANAGER at TechnoServe ZambiaGRANTS MANAGER at TechnoServe Zambia