NGO mulls banana plantations in Mutasa

district of Manicaland in a bid to economically empower communities in the area.
The plantations will be developed on 10 hectares and will benefit the Muterere and Ngarura communities.
In a tender notice, World Vision invited a reputable consultant to conduct a feasibility study for the banana project.
The project will be under irrigation. Water sources for the two schemes are 4 km away in the surrounding mountains.
Traditionally, Honde Valley has been a major producer of bananas in Zimbabwe. Analysts noted there was no better time to invest in bananas than now.
With a formal market deficit
estimated at 50 percent which is about
20 000 tonnes partly attributed to a decline in commercial sector
production, there was a clear opportunity for small-holders to make money, according to a recent report by farming online publication, Africa Agriculture.
It said about 4 000 households in Honde Valley and Rusitu Valleys depend on revenue from bananas for more than a third of their income.
However, despite clear demand in formal markets located mainly in urban areas, smallholder farmers have in the past failed to supply consistent quantities of high quality bananas to the market.
Production had been declining since the late 90s, as the public extension system weakened amid dwindling budget support from Government.
“A closer look showed that small-holder productivity lagged far behind commercial sector levels. For instance, average productivity was only 16 tonnes per hectare while commercial output was over 40 tonnes,” said Africa Agriculture.
It said with increases in productivity and quality, a household can get an average annual income of over US$1 000.
If value added, the banana fruit can produce various banana flavoured products such as drinks, yoghurt or sweets.
Over the past years, World Vision has provided irrigation equipment worth thousands of dollars for the commencement of projects like Hauke and Lupane irrigation schemes in Matabeleland North in an effort to improve food security at household level.
The Christian organisation has also been involved in projects such as borehole drilling and rehabilitation and the heifer projects in some farming communities.
World Vision is an international humanitarian organisation catering for vulnerable groups and communities.