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Elita Chikwati
JAPAN has provided US$5,1 million to the World Food Programme to fund climate resilience and sustainable agriculture, directly supporting 37 000 smallholder farmers across five districts to ensure household food security and growing incomes from crop sales.
The three-year initiative, “Livelihoods support for smallholder farmers through enhancing resilience to climate change and sustainable agriculture”, enables the establishment of water-based infrastructure, training of farmers on market-oriented approach through the concept of grow to sell, and enhancing agricultural extension services.
The project will be implemented by the World Food Programme.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Harare on Wednesday, Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Shinichi Yamanaka said the project strengthened bilateral economic relations between Zimbabwe and Japan.
“Under this project, small-scale farmers will be supported in growing sesame seeds which will be processed into products like sesame oil and sesame paste. The sesame products are essential for Japanese cuisine. A Japanese company has secured lucrative markets for the crop.
“The Japanese government will provide financial assistance of approximately US$72 000 to the project for the construction of storage for sesame farmers in Mwenezi District implemented by the Sustainable Agriculture Trust (SAT).
“SAT will support production of sesame and its procurement including value addition for local and export markets,” he said.
WFP representative and country director Ms Barbara Clemens acknowledged the Government for unwavering leadership and commitment to improving food security and resilience.
“As we face increasingly intense and frequent climate shocks, partnerships like this one are essential to ensuring that Zimbabweans are equipped to adapt and succeed.
“We appreciate Japan’s long-standing belief in WFP’s mission in Zimbabwe. Your commitment, alongside WFP and the private sector, underscores the power of collaboration in saving and changing lives.
“This initiative not only addresses the immediate needs of vulnerable communities, but also sets a standard for what is possible when we come together with a shared vision,” she said.
SAT deputy country director Mr Lloyd Masunda their work was aligned to Government’s rural industrialisation drive, NDS1 and Vision 2030 aspirations.
“The support from the Japanese Embassy will boost our support to aggregate sesame production in rural communities and store it properly and hygienically before processing at the value addition centre we have established in Rutenga, Mwenezi,” he said.
SAT is working with 11 400 smallholder farmers producing sesame.
Last season they harvested 700 tonnes of sesame in Chiredzi and Mwenezi and of this 212 tonnes were exported to Japan and Mozambique, while 40 tonnes were sold locally.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri said the project emphasised building on lessons learnt during the El Nino-induced drought.
“We must not get into this situation ever again when we have partners that assist us to come out of it. From our Rural Development 8.0 programming which emphasises access to water resources to communities and village business units, this project we are signing today was born to re-emphasise development of resilience by communities.
Online Reporter