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Bulawayo Bureau
A US$4 million Inclusive, Market-Oriented Value chains for Economic Development project (iMoved) Swedish-funded agricultural project targeting 10 500 smallholder farmers, mainly women and the youth, in 13 districts has been launched.
The four-year project focuses on three value chains, dairy, soya and horticulture.
It intends to set up 15 five-hectare gardens called “Green Hubs” where each farmer will have access to 0,2ha for growing a fodder crop, that is lucerne on 0,1ha and other suitable crops on the remaining 0,1ha.
The gardens will be supported to have a reliable water source, solar water abstraction and infield drip water distribution system.
Speaking at the launch last week, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development permanent secretary, Dr John Basera, noted that the iMoved project was built on lessons learnt from previous and current programmes implemented by We Effect Zimbabwe, a European Union funded Transforming Zimbabwe’s Dairy Value Chain project in Zimbabwe (TranZDVC) and other previous dairy projects.
“The Inclusive, Market-Oriented Value Chains for Economic Development project is a four-year project with the timeframe 01 December 2022 to 30 November 2026 and a budget of MSEK 40 000 000 (US$4 million) funded by the Embassy of Sweden,” he said.
The overarching goal of the project is: “To contribute to an inclusive, market-oriented value chain development of the dairy, soya beans and horticulture sector for sustainable livelihoods of female, male and youth smallholder farmers.”
“The project is targeting 10 500 smallholder farmers in 13 districts of Zimbabwe for the three value chains, dairy, soya and horticulture.
“The project will also graduate nine viable Milk Collection Centres into business hubs which will then be linked to large processors. Ten new integrators will also be recruited to each mobilise 50 dairy farmers using an out-grower model through an anchor farmer.”
Dr Basera said for soyabeans approximately 4 000 female and male farmers will be trained in soyabeans agronomy and their value addition, the objective being to increase incomes from soyabean production by up to 50 percent and increase productivity from 800 kg/ha to 1,500 kg/ha.
Added to that, a total of 13 Soya bean Processing Hubs (SPHs) will be set up to crush cooking oil, make soyabean cake and make soya meal.
“These SPHs will either be run by an Oil Processors Association (OPA) or individual agripreneurs. In terms of infrastructure, the project intends to set up 15 five-hectare gardens called “Green Hubs” where each farmer will have access to 0.2ha for growing a fodder crop, that is lucerne on 0,1ha and other suitable crops on the remaining 0.1ha,” said Dr Basera.
The gardens will be supported to have a reliable water source, solar water abstraction and infield drip water distribution system.”
Dr Basera said to contribute to the realisation of the project goal, the project will work with partners to create linkages between smallholder farmers, private sector companies and other stakeholders in the dairy, soyabeans and horticulture value chains, to increase productivity and incomes.
“The project will have a specific focus on women and youth, tackling challenges that previously have excluded them from these value chains and denied them the opportunity to benefit from these value chains as per the project motto: ‘Markets bridging gender gaps.”
“The project intends to capacitate partners and smallholder farmers to advocate and lobby local authorities and policy makers towards an enabling environment for the viability of the sectors.
“It has been shown that a successful dairy value chain requires complementary value chains that can help plug the inherent cash-flow gaps likely to be experienced.”
With the main cost driver in milk production being the cost of feed as it stands at 76 percent of variable costs, smallholder farmers especially women and young people will benefit from diversified income sources and complementary value chains that will promote on-farm feed formulation.
A succession and up-scaling of the celebrated matching grant facility, semen facility, dairy models, activities on reducing cost of feed, renewable energy, value chain partnerships, digital platforms, financial and market linkages will be done under iMoved.
Dr Basera said at present, the national average milk production per cow is 14 litres/cow per day, adding that more needs to be done to increase productivity.
“Promoting soyabean production for feed formulation and soyabeans direct sales, as envisaged in this project, can increase protein availability, and ultimately contribute to reduced feed costs and increased production per cow,” he said.
“The production of fodder will also be enhanced through the promotion of composite green hubs, where feed entrepreneurs will grow fodder like rye grass and lucerne, as well as high-value crops like sugar beans, green mealies, cabbage and covo or rape.
“These horticulture crops will be for local sale with guaranteed income for project participants while fodder will be channelled into the feed market increasing availability and lowering costs. Initiatives under iMoved are in line with the Government of Zimbabwe’s 2030 vision of transforming the country into a middle-income economy by 2030.”
Online Reporter