Chronicle EditorBlessing Rwizi Mutare Bureau
More than 600 women farmers registered as members of Mutasa Farmers Club being funded to the tune of $100 000 by the United Nations Environment Programme. Mutasa Farmers Club, the brainchild of Development Aid from People to People, seeks to empower small-scale farmers to succeed in their business.
It is expected to end in February 2019.
The programme targeted 1 000 small-scale farmers in wards 11 and 19 of Mutasa District, with 60 percent of them being women, who are at the forefront in farming and food production in most communal areas.
The 1 000 farmers were divided into four groups of 250 people each where on-going mentorship and training is being provided in production, consumption, marketing, environment, nutrition and health issues.
They are also undergoing one-day trainings each month on conservation agriculture, focusing on crop rotation, mulching, composting and minimum soil disturbance for both cereal and horticultural crops.
Project leaders in the four groups provide theoretical farmers’ training, while extension officers from Agritex provide practical knowledge.
DAPP farming instructor, Mr Struggle Muzavazi, said: “Despite the contribution of males and females in this project being similar, we chose to have more women since they are at the forefront in farming and food production in most communal areas.
“Our target was 600 women, but we have already exceeded the number. To sustainably increase food production by preserving and improving soil fertility, this project is using Conservation Agriculture techniques like minimum or zero tillage, mulching and crop rotation.
“Farmers are being trained on knowledge and skills to use more efficient composting methods and horticultural production of targeted crops identified through market research. We have also established model fields to enhance assimilation of knowledge and adoption of targeted techniques in each of the project sub-clubs.”
Online Reporter