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Farmers said the concept would ensure food security and sustenance of farming ventures in communities.
In an interview during an Oxfam-initiated solar energy fair at Gomba Village in Gutu last week, Ruti Irrigation Scheme marketing co-ordinator Ms Ipaishe Masvingise said if farming communities could have farming contracts with reputable companies there would be ready markets for their produce.
“Contract farming could go a long way in alleviating some of the challenges faced by those in farming.
“Since we started operating at Ruti Irrigation Scheme, we have been facing a number of challenges in sourcing markets.
“We once tried the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) but we were taken aback by the amount of time they spent before paying us our money.
“Receiving the money for your produce six months after delivery will not assist a farmer in any business sense.
“As much as we would want to deal with GMB we are discouraged by the delay in getting our money. It is against this background that we are appealing to reputable companies that can assist us in this regard,” said Ms Masvingise.
She said there were no lucrative markets for their produce in Gutu, hence looking for other avenues to market their crops.
“We have harvested enough beans for family use and resale but there are no lucrative markets here.
“Many of our villagers do not have money such that we are even selling maize to them at concessionary rates.
“This is the reason why we are considering contract farming which would ensure that our produce has a ready market,” she said.
Ruti irrigation scheme is heavily supported by Oxfam and has assisted a number of households in Ward 13 and 14.
Many people in the area now get food from the farming venture.
“We are grateful to Oxfam and Government for making the dream of having a source of livelihood a reality for most of us here.
“Since we started the farming business at the irrigation scheme, the two wards have never run short of food and yet there is only a handful of households directly benefiting from this venture.
“The Government provided land and water in the form of Ruti Dam which was constructed in the 1980s.
“We are able to send our children to school using the money we realise from this project and the lives of many people have changed for the better.
“At least 240 households are benefiting from this project that stands to be the main source of many livelihoods in the entire district of Gutu.
“Our desire is to see this project becoming one of the best in the country with many ripple effects like shops that can provide employment to the youths,” she said.
She also said project members have received training in a number of areas chief among them, marketing and administration.
They have since accrued many benefits from this training and some of them got an opportunity to visit similar projects in Manicaland province on a look and learn tour organised by Oxfam.
Online Reporter