Deep Plough Converts Pumula North Dumpsite into Climate-Adaptation Drying Hub

Providence Moyo

Deep Plough, a youth-led agricultural collective in Bulawayo, is establishing a high-capacity produce-drying hub through the conversion of a previously neglected dumpsite in Pumula North. The initiative addresses climate-related challenges to food security by pioneering a value-chain response that integrates urban youth training, urban farming innovation, and community resilience.

The former dumpsite in Pumula North has undergone significant physical transformation. What was described as a sprawling mound of waste, leachate, and rusting debris is now a facility marked by new signage: “Deep Plough Youth Drying Centre.” Support from Hauling Quarry, facilitated the use of heavy machinery to level the ground, install drainage, and prepare drying beds and clean platforms for produce processing. The site, previously used by waste trucks, is now utilized to prepare and dry high-value perishable produce, such as mushrooms, bananas, and oranges, under the sun.

In an interview with Matebeleland Pulse, Deep Plough chairperson Muziwanele Ncube said the decision repurpose the dumping site was strategic.

“We knew that climate change was shrinking land availability and increasing post-harvest losses. Farmers were watching crops rot, trucks were struggling with spoilage, and youth were losing interest in agriculture because the value chain simply broke.”

The drying center serves three primary functions, according to Ncube to provide a secure space for the sorting and sun/low-heat drying of high-value crops. Train urban youth in value-addition techniques. and reconnect the produce chain to markets to mitigate waste and improve incomes.

Bulawayo and surrounding regions face acute water scarcity driven by erratic rainfall, extended dry spells, and unreliable boreholes. These conditions have reduced agricultural productivity and worsened food insecurity, particularly for smallholder farmers who often lack access to necessary storage, drying, and processing facilities. Reports indicate that post-harvest losses for certain perishables in the region can reach up to 30%.

Deep Plough’s strategy is based on the premise that increasing production alone is insufficient for climate adaptation. Ncube observed: “Yes, we need more crops; yes, we need more land but if we don’t address how those crops are stored, processed and marketed, the cycle of loss continues.”

The drying hub directly counters post-harvest losses by extending the shelf-life of short-life produce (e.g., mushrooms, bananas, oranges) through dehydration. This process increases the value of the goods and enhances the potential for youth engagement.

The project aims to re-engineer the perception of agriculture among urban youth, who often view it as low-income and dependent on unpredictable rainfall. Deep Plough is recruiting and training young people to operate beyond planting and harvesting, focusing on roles in processing, packaging, marketing, and entrepreneurship.

The initiative includes a two-tier training program with hands-on instruction at the drying center. The curriculum covers the technical skills required for drying, including rinsing, slicing, blanching, temperature control, storage, and hygienic packaging for produce such as mushrooms, bananas, apples, and oranges.

“The aim,” says Ncube, “is that climate adaptation becomes a pathway for youth entrepreneurship. They don’t just respond to climate stress they build businesses out of it.”

Accountability metrics for the project include tracking the number of youth trained, the kilograms of produce processed, the market linkages established, and the revenue generated from dried products.

The conversion of the dumpsite received backing from local councillors and community leaders, who favored a clean, productive facility over a derelict waste tip.

Smallholder farmers and peri-urban gardeners in the Bulawayo area are currently supplying produce. Items that might otherwise have been discarded due to shape, size, or short shelf-life are now collected, processed, and sold by Deep Plough.

• Mushrooms, which have a short shelf-life, are dried and packaged in resealable packs.
• Bananas are processed into chips or banana-flour blends.
• Oranges and apples are dehydrated for snacks or ingredients for local baking and teas.

This value-addition increases the final product’s shelf-life, enables access to new market channels (including regional and online sales), and provides supplementary income.

The project also adheres to principles of environmental responsibility: organic waste from drying (peels, cores) is incorporated into composting systems, and water is recycled or captured in low-tech catchments, modeling a circular economy approach.

The initiative currently faces operational challenges, including the need for reliable electricity to power drying racks during overcast periods, difficulties in sourcing packaging materials, and hurdles in accessing premium markets. Securing long-term finance for scaling operations also remains a concern.

Despite these obstacles, Deep Plough expresses confidence in the model’s replicability. Looking ahead, the collective plans to launch a branded line of dried Bulawayo produce and explore export channels within Southern Africa. They also aim to collaborate with the City Council and climate-finance programs to establish youth-owned “agri-pods”—mini drying hubs in other suburbs—digitally linked to the main center.

Deep Plough’s drying hub addresses the convergence of climate change, water scarcity, and youth unemployment by enhancing food security through effective resource utilization and value-chain development. The project transforms a former waste site into a productive asset, providing a tangible model for climate adaptation and youth-driven economic engagement in Bulawayo. As Ncube concludes, the approach was to turn existing crises into operational inputs:

“We realised that doing the same thing and expecting a different result was no longer an option. Instead, we turned the problem inside-out: drought, youth unemployment, value-chain losses—what if we made them our inputs?”

The Pumula North drying center is currently operational, focusing on training, processing, and establishing market links. Its long-term significance will depend on its ability to scale and sustain momentum.