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Precious Manomano
ZIMBO Agricultural Outreach will host a networking platform in Harare for women in agriculture to equip them with farming knowledge that contributes to the country’s agriculture and economic development.
Over the past decades, women have taken centre stage in agriculture with the majority now sustaining their families through farming.
Zimbo Agricultural Outreach founder Ms Chido Deketeke said the Farming-in-Heels lunch on Saturday would provide a platform for women to discuss issues around financing, visibility, branding, value addition, crop and animal husbandry.
“We think as women we should create a space where we can share information and build big brands. We can build better brands, that are bigger, and we can compete. We will bring together a group of people that are already leading in business or agriculture, and they have created names for themselves as women,” she said. Ms Deketeke, a social worker, wants to empower women in rural communities of Zimbabwe.
She said women lacked enough knowledge of financing and even marketing their products.
“I think the lack of knowledge is the biggest one for me. I think with agriculture, it’s usually just very intimidating because we have always been told farming is for men”.
Some of the speakers expected at the event include the farmer and entrepreneur and founder of Mnandi Africa Ruramiso Mashumba, tobacco farmer and horticulturist Ordripha Zishiri, pioneering crocodile farmer, entrepreneur and executive director of Vimbai’s Crocodylidae products Vimbai Dzingirai, entrepreneur and founder of Fresh in a Box Nomaliso Musasiwa, farmer and founder of CAG Dr Afra Nhanhanga and The Herald’s first female editor Victoria Ruzvidzo. Women account for 52 percent of the population and their inclusion in all sectors is critical for the attainment of Vision 2030.
The National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) also prioritises gender mainstreaming and equal opportunities for women.
Online Reporter