By Virginia Njovo
As the Seeds For Future (SEFF) project comes to an end in Masvingo Province, marking the end of a three-year partnership between the government of Zimbabwe and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), the project is said to have transformed lives benefitting around 6 000 people from the province.
Speaking during a closure meeting at Urban Lifestyles Hotel recently, SEFF Project Manager Joseph Matiza highlighted a key milestone, the unification of women’s groups through establishment of local chapters for the Rural Women Assembly (RWA).
Matiza said the groups had empowered women to influence policies affecting local food systems and address social, health, and economic issues.
“In each project district, the RWA identified public agenda items needing attention, leading to several prioritized pilot actions, two Early Childhood Development (ECD) classroom blocks at Ndali and Mpinga Primary Schools in Chiredzi district, mother’s waiting shelter at Maranda Clinic in Mwenezi, the construction of a primary health center at Fusira Business Center in Masvingo to reduce travel distances for healthcare access, especially for pregnant mothers,” said Matiza.
A new community seed bank was constructed in Mubagwashe and another rehabilitated in Mpinga, enhancing farmers’ access to local, adaptable seeds for improved productivity, food security, and nutrition.
One of the project beneficiaries, Kesia Zonke expressed gratitude for the SEFF project and said it had promoted self-sufficiency among the beneficiaries.
“We thank SEFF for this project as we have ventured into self-sustainable initiatives that will support our financial stability for years to come,” said Zonke.
Shashe Agroecology Chairperson Elizabeth Mpofu praised the Italian government for supporting SEFF and requested more sustainable projects, assuring that the initiative would continue.
“We want to thank SEFF and its partners for equipping us with a sustainable project which we promise to sustain,” said Mpofu.
AICS country manager Paolo Enrico Sertoli expressed gratitude for the cooperation received during the period of project implementation.
“I am grateful to all institutions, organisations and individuals who made the SEFF initiative possible, a special word of thanks goes to Masvingo Community whose energy, ideas and perseverance have been the true engine of this project’s success.
“Together we have planted seeds of hope knowledge and opportunity, AICS and the Italian Development Cooperation reaffirm their full commitment to continue this journey together towards a future that is more inclusive, prosperous and sustainable,” said Sertoli.
Rural producers of paprika and sesame have also become shareholders in two private companies, Papri-Afrika and Ses-Afrika. These companies operate aggregation and processing plants within a multi-service centre established by the project in Rutenga, with additional co-financing from other development partners.
The intervention has linked rural farmers to value-added local and export markets, increasing their revenue. In the past year, farmers marketed 78 and 274 metric tonnes of paprika and sesame, generating over $400 000 for approximately 6 100 farmers.
It also positively impacted rural beneficiaries through various programmes, including, school-managed vegetable gardens, and poultry initiatives for home-grown school feeding programmes, weir dam construction, establishment of micro-irrigation schemes, rehabilitation of community seed banks for traditional grains and improved market linkages for dry-land grains, oilseeds, and irrigated crops
SEFF project was implemented by a consortium led by COSPE, being partnered by Terredes Hommess Italia (TDH), Sustainable Agriculture Technology (SAT), Women and Land in Zimbabwe (WLZ), Community Technology Development Organization and Rete Semi Rurali (RSR), with the support from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Development.
