By Virginia Njovo
The Dryland Sustainable Landscapes project that is helping local farmers in commercializing their produce is currently taking shape in Masvingo Province where some products are now reaching value addition stages.
With overall direct impact of 1 million beneficiaries across Africa, Masvingo Province was divided into two catchments, Save and Runde with the two covering eight districts namely Zaka, Buhera, Chipinge, Chimanimani, Shurugwi, Chivi, Bikita and Masvingo.
The project is sponsored by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), led by Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and being implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife through the Environmental Agency (EMA) as the executing entity and other implementing partners including Zimbabwe National Parks and Forestry Commission.
Addressing the media during exhibitions at Flamboyant Hotel recently, Chairperson of Shashe Agricology Elizabeth Mpofu said the project was successful as they were to put products in the market despite some market challenges.
“This project has positively impacted on our lives, we have managed to create employment, we have access to healthy food stuffs as we are reimaging the Zimbabwe, the Africa which we have was there before high sugar processed foods came in picture.
“Despite the market barrier we are facing where there are farmers who are producing for commercial market and us who are doing Agro-ecology production, we end up using the existing prizing which is already in the market as consumers have inadequate knowledge on the actual difference between the two,” said Mpofu.
Mpofu added that that despite the success of the project, there were some ignorant farmers who did not want to transform from the usual commercial system of farming.
“Though we are facing some challenges, as we are in the era where the same farmer is given inputs from fertilizers, treated seeds and herbicides while we are advocating for zero herbicides so it become a challenge to convince a farmer to re adopt to the traditional ways of producing products which are 100 percent natural,” added Mpofu.
Chimanimani’s Chimani Delights production supervisor Rutendo Chirigo says as the value addition entity they were working hand in hand with farmers in the production of some their products.
“At Chimani Delights we are doing processing and packaging of macadamia nuts, tamarind and honey, this project has impacted the community as they are benefiting from local to national level,” said Chirigo.
FAO Environment National Resources Coordination Specialist Banarbas Mawire said the landscape was directly affected by its geographical locations as well as low adaptation of its inhabitants to the impacts of climate change in the area which was causing land degradation, deforestation, pollution, soil erosion and siltation of water bodies as the project came into the picture in reimaging the previous existing forests.
“As a project we are promoting integrated land use planning working with all sectors, including government departments, academia, financial institutions in reimaging initial existing landscape as well as promoting assisted natural regeneration where the project is broadening livelihoods by promoting value chains where everyone is benefiting from each stage,” said Mawire.
