adminTalent Simbi Nyanga Correspondent
WOMEM in Magadzire area under Chief Tangwena are set to benefit from a banana production and value addition project launched by Tafadzwa NeChiedza Development Institute in the border village last week. The move to help the villagers was facilitated by Nyanga South Member of National Assembly, Cde Supa Mandiwanzira and the Harare-based organisation is funded by the New Zealand Aid.
Speaking at a Farmers Assessment meeting held at Magadzire Primary School last Friday, Tafadzwa NeChiedza managing consultant, Mrs Patience Magodo, said their thrust was to promote farming as a business.
“We want to teach our farmers to sustain their livelihoods through farming. We will discourage them from selling raw bananas by giving them the machinery to dry, grind and prepare juice. This will by far improve their diet and income,” she said.
Mrs Magodo said they were in the process of buying solar driers and a grinding mill for the project.
The project will initially see 50 women farmers benefiting.
Tafadzwa NeChiedza will provide the farmers with the banana seedlings mostly sweet banana which they said was in demand in Japan. They will also work hand in glove with the local Agritex officers in implementing the project.
Speaking on the sidelines of the launch, Zanu-PF national deputy secretary for security, Cde Lovemore Chibvura, hailed the First Lady, Dr Amai Grace Mugabe for spearheading women empowerment projects which has seen women economic emancipation countrywide.
Cde Chibvura said it was Dr Mugabe’s restless encouragement of women to come out of their deep slumber which has seen women believing in themselves to run their own businesses.
“We are seeing these women enthusiastic to start this banana project. In the past women would have doubted their ability to run the project alone without their male counterparts. Some are doing poultry projects being funded by Cde Mandiwanzira. Some are applying for funds to start their own farming projects. These are signs of some empowered women,” he said.
With all the plans that are in place, the project promises to be a community development enterprise that will keep villagers busy all year round and create an economic vibrant zone in Tangwena.
Honde Valley, which is next to Magadzire is a shining example of a community that has thrived through commercial banana production.
Online Reporter