Dr Tatenda Kawhena is a natural problem solver. His most recent idea could likely help shrink the pomegranate industry’s plastic footprint and curb food losses along the value chain. His life-changing idea? An edible coating that extends the storage and shelf life of pomegranates.
Growing up in Zimbabwe, Marondera, Kawhena shares that he appreciated how close the town was to the rural areas. It is there where he spent most of his days with his grandmother, helping her plough the land.
“Marondera is basically a beautiful town, mostly built for people who were retiring, but also people who were interested in agriculture in terms of growing crops like tobacco or maize,” he explains in the episode.
Carving out a career in agriculture
According to Kawhena, he never really imagined following a path into the agricultural sector. He was quite good at maths and science in high school and always envisioned himself being a chemical engineer. However, later on in life, he realised that he is a natural problem solver and could see that agriculture had opportunities to grow.
When he got the opportunity to study agriculture, Kawhena took it with both hands.
We celebrate this week’s #SoilSista, Eastern Cape farmer Tuleka Ngcingwana. She comes from an entrepreneurial family, so when her parents decided to start a commercial farm, her experience in business came in handy.
In this episode, Kwhena also unpacks:
- More on his edible pomegranate coating;
- How he become an agronomist and much more
- And Tuleka Ngcingwana #SoilSista sharing her journey of farming.
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ALSO READ: Women in agriculture: Share your perspective!
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