By Rangarirai Shanyurai
A government-backed nutrition garden in Musakanda Village, Masvingo West, has become a model of rural transformation, empowering local families with food security, income, and skills development.
Established in 2022 through the support of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and local MP Ezra Chadzamira, the Musakanda Nutrition Garden has a dedicated group of 20 farmers who run the project, now equipped with drip irrigation and a fish pond.
The garden vice chairperson Joseph Mandava said the initiative had significantly improved livelihoods in the area, despite early challenges in managing farming responsibilities.
“The garden has helped community members in improving livelihoods as people are carrying out income generating projects. Previously, we lacked knowledge on how to balance working on this garden with our individual fields but now we can manage our duties effectively. Managing both means we get to increase our income,” said Mandava.
He commended ARDA for technical support and noted that the installation of a drip irrigation system had boosted productivity but also highlighted critical equipment failures.
“One of our Jojo tanks got damaged when it fell, and now we are operating with one. We are also using a filter that is too small. These issues affect our efficiency, and we appeal to authorities to assist us,” he said.
The garden’s produce, including rape and other vegetables, is sold locally, with proceeds going directly to the farmers.
Another beneficiary said the project had brought men and women together, creating a sense of unity and purpose in the village.
“Thanks to this project, we are able to pay school fees, buy food and even engage in fish farming. We also appreciate the reliable water supply, which has reduced the burden of fetching water from far away,” she said.
She also commented the Member of Parliament, Chadzamira and Councilor Petros Jorodhani for ensuring the project’s continuity.
Masvingo West Ward 11 Councilor, Petros Jorodhani thanked government for 12 boreholes they received and said they community felt relieved after intervention from the MP and the President.
“We thank our local MP Chadzamira and President Mnangagwa for the development. We got 12 boreholes in the ward so we have access to clean water.
“We used to have a water crisis since we have no dams to irrigate the crops in our gardens but we now feel relieved because of the boreholes. We have five gardens watered by solarized boreholes from government,” said Jorodhani.
