Farmers to benefit from organic projects

The NGO, Fambidzanai Permaculture Centre (FPC) in conjunction with Zimbabwe Organic Products and Promoter (ZOPP) and Standard Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) has been operating in Mashonaland where it has assisted communal farmers who cannot afford to buy fertilisers for their fields to grow crops cheaply using organic manure.
The programme started in February last year.
A total of 670 farmers from Mashonaland have since benefited and have graduated with certificates after undertaking different courses under the project.
The NGO’s projects manager, Mr Kudakwashe Mudokwani, said his organisation had established itself in Matabeleland South where they were assisting farmers with water harvesting techniques and farming skills.
Mr Mudokwani urged farmers in Matabeleland South that were into organic farming to enrol for the courses to gain more experience on how to grow crops without having to apply artificial fertilisers.
He said the programme was aimed at achieving goals of last year’s global climate change conference held in Durban, COP17, where it was agreed that all countries should strive to Go Green.
“We urge all farmers who are into organic farming in Matabeleland and other provinces to apply to undergo these courses at the Fambidzanai Permaculture Centre in Harare,” said Mr Mudokwani.
“We are giving the certificate to farmers who have committed themselves to growing vegetables and other crops the natural way, without using fertilisers to promote a greener environment.
“Last year we licensed about 670 farmers from eight districts in Mashonaland East. These belonged to about 32 associations of farmers and this year we are set to license farmers in Matabeleland region,” he said.
He said the programme would empower farmers to be competitive and be able to sell their produce at competitive prices.
“The certificate they will acquire after the course would enable farmers to sell their produce at a higher market price than others, because we are now promoting naturally produced crops, their produce would be the first grade in the market,” said Mr Mudokwani.