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Senior Reporter
EIGHT hundred women under the auspices of the Headlands Small Scale Farmers Association (HSSFA) are set to benefit from a cowpeas project aided by three parastatals to boost rural livelihoods and ease dependency syndrome.
The HSSFA disbursed four tonnes of cowpeas seed, chemicals, herbicides and liquid fertilisers earlier today (Friday).
The seed was secured from the Agriculture and Rural Development Authority (Arda) while the liquid feriliser was sourced through the Zimbabwe Women’s Microfinance Bank (ZWMB).
The AFC Leasing Company will provide tillage services.
The association’s leader, Mr Innocent Magutakuona, said at least 400 hectares will be put under cowpeas which matures in two months.
“We entered into a partnership with Arda which gave us four tonnes of cowpeas seed and we distributed it to benefit 800 women, each getting a 5kg pack. Each beneficiary also got 5 litres of liquid fertilizer which will help in the flowering and pollination of the crop, courtesy of ZWMB. The package also includes chemicals and herbicides, which will be paid for after harvesting,” said Mr Magutakuona.
The liquid fertilizer costs US$40 per 5l.
“We are negotiating with the AFC Leasing Company to give us tractors for land preparation and planting, which should begin next week. We are happy to be partnering the three organisations to empower rural women to produce their own cowpeas seed for sale.
“The beneficiaries, apart from producing their own seed, will also harvest and dry the cowpeas leaves for sale and consumption,” he said.
Online Reporter