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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Gwanda Correspondent
PRACTICAL Action in conjunction with another non-governmental organisation, Fambidzanai, has set aside $1,3 million towards installing solar power in 18 gardens in Matobo and Gwanda districts in Matabeleland South in a programme that seeks to empower women.
Speaking at an inception meeting in Gwanda on Thursday, Practical Action programme delivery leader, Mrs Melody Mukumbe said 75 percent of the beneficiaries of the project would be women.
She said the project was being funded by the Isle of Man Government.
“As Practical Action we are working together with Fambidzanai to implement a two-year project titled ‘Renewable Energy Empowering Women Farmers (REEWF)’. Under the programme we are targeting to install solar energy at 18 gardens in four different wards in Matobo and Gwanda districts. Nine will be installed in Matobo and the other nine in Gwanda.
“We will be implementing the project in Gwanda while Fambidzanai will be responsible for the project in Matobo. The project is being funded by Isle of Man Government. We are in the process of engaging relevant stakeholders so that we can identify the target gardens but we will develop existing gardens,” she said.
Mrs Mukumbe said the project started in August and will run until 31 July 2020. She said the programme targeted 990 farmers and each garden is expected to be about two hectares.
She said the objective of the project was to empower female small holder famers through access to clean renewable energy.
Mrs Mukumbe said farmers were expected to contribute 10 percent towards hardware costs under the programme.
“The project is at inception stage. During the first year, we will have capacity building programmes on technical issues, infrastructure installations, we will also initiate market systems development. During the second year we will continue with market systems development and continue to offer technical support to farmers. During the course of the programme we will also facilitate inter and intra- district farmer exchange visits. We will hold capacity development through training on agro-ecology techniques, seed production and storage, farming as a business, post harvest management among other issues,” she said.
Bongani Ndlovu