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In an interview, Empretec southern region co-ordinator Ms Lifneth Moyo said the programme was meant to improve the livelihoods of rural people through business training, entrepreneurship and encouraging them to work together.
She said the projects on offer included poultry, small and large livestock, bee keeping, piggery, horticulture, art and craft among others. The projects are income generating and are used to sustain their livelihoods.
“We are running a Protracted Relief Programme were we target rural families and enlighten them on leadership training, market research, and encourage them to work as a group so as to sustain their livelihoods.
“The projects are income generating but although the money they are getting is little, it is going a long way in alleviating poverty among rural people,” she said.
Some beneficiaries of the programme said limited access to markets by rural entrepreneurs was forcing them to sell their goods at give away prices.
Mr Senior Tshuma from Mangwe District, who is into poultry, said many people did not have readily available disposable income.
“People do not have money to buy and because of that, we are forced to reduce our prices at times and that is not sustainable for our businesses. As a result, most entrepreneurs are failing to operate at full capacity,” he said.
Mr Tshuma said they had to compete for the same limited markets with cheap imported products and shops.
He said rural businesses needed a lot of support for them to be viable.
“Doing business in rural areas is tough as it needs a lot of support. As it is right now, my chickens have to compete for the same market with imported ones which are usually cheaper,” said Mr Tshuma.
A bee keeper from Matobo, Mr Wozani Moyo, said he had to diversify into poultry and livestock rearing because he was not making much from selling honey.
Online Reporter