dyton mupawaenda
Ashton Mutyavaviri
THE advent of business units as economic empowerment tools has seen communities reshaping their livelihoods for the good using incomes generated from their village, school and youth business units.
Manzini village business unit in Shurugwi, for one, is sustaining the livelihoods of 20 households.
The one-hectare garden has been put under intensive production of tomatoes, vegetables, butternuts and green mealies.
In neighbouring Zvishavane, another 19 households are getting their sustenance from Hondoyenzara Business Unit as well.
Village business units (VBU) are helping to spur rural industrialisation and addressing food security at household level, enhancing income generation and creating employment for the rural population.
VBUs are a vibrant drought mitigation strategy. On the other hand, village, school and youth business units are local economic entities established within rural villages to promote entrepreneurship, economic development and self-reliance at the grassroots level.
These units not only focus on increasing agricultural productivity but also on diversifying crops to ensure a more balanced and nutritious diet. By promoting the cultivation of a wide range of fruits, vegetables, and grains, they aim to combat malnutrition and improve overall community health.
In Masvingo province, Chinorumba school business units (SBU) in Zaka are also thriving with participants producing tomatoes, maize, cabbages and fish.
These projects are generating income for the school as we as nutrition for more than 600 pupils and the community at large.
The impact of these initiatives extends beyond the boundaries of the village business units.
By strengthening local food production, they reduce dependency on external sources and create a more self-sufficient food system.
This, in turn, contributes to the economic development of rural communities and empowers small-scale farmers to take control of their destiny.
Meanwhile, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development permanent secretary Professor Obert Jiri said the Government’s thrust under Rural Development 8, was to develop each village to be self-sufficient in terms of food and nutrition.
“Agricultural development must lead to rural industrialisation and it is the setting of these rural industries that leads to rural development. Essentially, rural development helps accelerate the attainment of an upper-middle income economy,” said Prof Jiri.
The Government is targeting to establish 10 000 village business units across the country by the end of this year, a development, which is set to improve food and nutrition security.
The Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services (ARDAS) chief director Mr Leonard Munamati said VBUs are about one hectare each and have solar-powered boreholes drilled on site and fitted with tanks.
“Village, youth and school business units are a robust drought mitigation measure because they provide food, nutrition and financial security to the rural population,” he added.
Online Reporter