dyton mupawaenda
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu-Bulawayo Bureau
WOMEN from Datata Village in Gwanda district have received 100 Matabele and Boer goats under the second phase of the Food Security and Livelihoods Project which is being funded by the Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA).
The programme, which is being implemented by Women and Land in Zimbabwe, seeks to empower rural women.
It is targeting 500 women in Gwanda, Mwenezi, Gutu, Shurugwi and Gokwe districts. The project which will operate on a pass-on scheme is expected to benefit over 1 500 women in the long run.
In Datata village, 100 women divided themselves into groups of 10 with each woman receiving a goat. Once the goats birth kids they will be passed on to other women.
A beneficiary, Ms Martha Nyoni (74) said: “I’m glad that this project is coming to us so that we can work in groups and not as individuals.
“There is strength in working as a group and this arrangement is even more convenient for me as it helps reduce the burden,”
Ms Nyoni said she was grateful to Women and Land Zimbabwe for the intervention.
Ms Lungile Dube said the project marks the beginning of a fruitful business enterprise.
She said once the goats have multiplied they will be sold to raise money to start other projects.
“We have received training which will help us to run our project as an enterprise,” said Ms Dube.
Ms Lindiwe Ndlovu said the intervention from Women and Land in Zimbabwe in their community has helped empower local women.
“As women, we were not empowered and Women and Land Zimbabwe has come in with various projects such as inputs, chicken and goat distribution. Their approach is to equip us with knowledge that will help the women to be self-sustainable in the long run,” she said.
Ms Ndlovu said as beneficiaries of the project, they were also imparting knowledge to other women who want to join the scheme.
Women and Land in Zimbabwe projects officer, Mr Mthokozisi Tshuma said 100 women have received goats with more women expected to benefit.
“We are assisting women farmers in Ward 2 in Gwanda North where we are targeting 500 women. Last year, we managed to distribute traditional grain inputs to 400 women and road runner chickens to 100 farmers,” he said.
“Today we were distributing 100 goats to women to ensure that they are food secure. They received goats in groups of 10 with each group getting 10 goats. This project is a pass-on scheme”.
Mr Tshuma said the beneficiaries have received basic training in goat breeding.
“Soon after distributing the goats, we vaccinated them against pulpy kidney. The project is being implemented in five districts,” he said.
The Food Security and Livelihoods Project seeks to strengthen livelihoods and contribute to building the resilience of households by meeting their food and income requirements.
The first phase of the project was rolled out from December 2022 to June 2023.
The second phase has been upscaled as it will be targeting 6000 women up from 3 000 in the first phase.
Under the first phase of Food Security and Livelihoods Project two solar-powered irrigation schemes have been established in Shurugwi and Makoni Districts.
Farmers have also been trained on income savings and lending and enterprise development as some of the mechanisms to cope with climate change effects.
Farmers have also been trained in agro-ecology and sustainable agriculture production.
They have been equipped with liquid fertilizer production skills and use of natural resources to control pests and diseases.
The project also increased farmer’s knowledge of disaster risk reduction. Under the first phase of the project, seven seed banks were established in the selected districts.
Online Reporter