Online Reporter
George Maponga
Masvingo Bureau
IN the arid landscapes of Chivi, where farming has long been defined by uncertainty and low yields, a quiet revolution is taking shape; one that is set to transform livelihoods for tens of thousands of rural households.
At the centre of this transformation is the Great Zimbabwe University (GZU), whose Innovation Centre for Dryland Agriculture (ICEDA) is emerging as a key driver of rural industrialisation.
Located near Mhandamabwe Business Centre, the facility will benefit more than 30 000 farmers across Chivi, Chirumhanzu and surrounding districts.
Still nearing completion, ICEDA reflects a shift in how institutions of higher learning can contribute to national development. Built in line with President Mnangagwa’s call for innovation-led solutions, the centre integrates research, production, processing and marketing.
At its core is a modern milling plant with capacity to process up to 150 tonnes of maize and traditional grains daily.
Branded “Guyo rekwaChivi”, the facility will convert locally produced millet, sorghum and maize into mealie-meal under GZU’s Afriblend label, linking smallholder farmers to structured markets.
Beyond grain processing, ICEDA also incorporates fish breeding, honey production and free-range poultry projects, all anchored on indigenous knowledge systems suited to dryland conditions. Farmers are being trained, contracted and supported to produce feedstock, ensuring a steady supply chain while boosting rural incomes.
GZU’s executive dean of Agriculture and Engineering, Dr Xavier Poshiwa, said the initiative is aligned with Government policy on modernising rural economies.
“We are implementing the directive by the Government that we must use locally available resources to drive modernisation and industrialisation of rural areas that will lead us to Vision 2030,” he said.
The centre has already created over 66 direct jobs and is transferring critical skills to local communities, particularly youths who are benefiting from hands-on training programmes.
Plans are also underway to establish aggregation centres across several districts, allowing farmers to deliver produce closer to home while reducing transport costs.
For local communities, the benefits are already evident, with improved access to markets, employment opportunities and skills development.
GZU Vice Chancellor Professor Rungano Zvobgo said: “The centre (ICEDA) has not just created jobs for our local people but it has also given them a place to supply their farming produce and earn some income and this aligns with the Vision of the President of leaving no one and no place behind.”
With commissioning expected soon, ICEDA stands as a practical example of how innovation, education and community empowerment can converge to transform rural economies.
