By Rangarirai Shanyurai
The Sustainable Agriculture Technology (SAT) in partnership with Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ) has established a Multiservice Centre that is making waves in the agricultural sector in Rutenga, Mwenezi.
Speaking with TellZim News, SAT Deputy Director Lloyd Masunda said their organization had built a Youth Vocational Training Center, Paprika and Sesame processing plants that had boosted agricultural activities in the area.
“We are a local NGO that is passionate about developing for rural communities. What you are seeing here is a Multiservice Centre established with the bank’s support. We have a paprika processing plant machine and a youth vocational training centre.
“Our partnership with IDBZ started three years ago with a loan of US$50 000 dollars that was injected to support paprika production in irrigation schemes. This season the IDBZ bank has given us a loan of US$430 000 which would be used to buy sesame from farmers,” said Masunda.
He said the partnership had assisted the organisation in reaching new international markets as they managed to export 212 tonnes of sesame.
“This partnership has helped us to unlock access to international markets. Last season we had done 212 tonnes exports of sesame to Japan, Mozambique and others.
“We are looking forward to having access to paprika global markets next year and beyond after the food safety certification of a paprika plant which is underway,” he said.
Masunda said with plans to expand paprika production and enhance sesame processing, the organization was committed to not only boosting agricultural exports but also reinforcing the national rural industrialization strategy. He said they had managed to stabilize the marketing of sesame and have become one of the major players on sesame value chain in the country.
IDBZ Chief Executive Officer Thomas Zondo Sakala emphasized the multifaceted benefits of the initiative to the community at large.
“The benefits are at three levels because we are working with the community to help them improve the production of paprika, sesame and offering them markets. Clearly that has impacts on income and livelihoods of the community.
“Also there is now an opportunity for the youth to be empowered through skills development that will benefit the community’s economic activities. The processed products from here find markets internationally, generating foreign currency for the country.
“At these three levels, community development, youth empowerment and foreign exchange generation is truly remarkable and deserves continued support,” said Sakala.
IDBZ vice chairperson Dr Naomi Wegwete said they were realising tangible changes in community through the SAT and IDBZ partnership.
“IDBZ is supporting some of the projects here especially to do with the communities in terms of production of sesame and paprika and this had had a positive impact in the communities,” said Wegwete.
