Online Reporter
Conrad Mupesa-Mashonaland West Bureau
A NON-GOVERNMENTAL organisation, 4-H Zimbabwe, which is complementing Government’s efforts for climate resilience and sustainable agriculture, has set up eight village business units (VBUs) in Hurungwe West Constituency.
The solarised units, supporting the Government’s agenda, have seen over 400 women being empowered across the constituency’s wards.
The organisation held a climate change mitigation workshop with various women from Hurungwe West Constituency at Magunje Vocational Training Centre, where it was confirmed that several complimenting initiatives to ensure communities are food secure in the wake of devastating climatic changes were in place.
The workshop targeted women who are affected more by the changing climate.
Mrs Violet Muburimi, a beneficiary of the initiative said climate change had impacted the lives of women in the region.
“Communities are facing serious food shortages, and this is due to poor rainfall patterns.
“The coming in of the Pfumvudza farming concept from Government has seen us realise more grain annually,” she said.
Mrs Tomaza Chikumba, a mother and farmer who has felt the serious challenges of climate change, urged Government and other stakeholders to avail tree seedlings.
Hurungwe, due to tobacco farming, has seen vast tracts of forests destroyed as farmers cut trees for golden leaf curing.
“We have learnt from this workshop that deforestation plays a role in reducing the rainfall that we receive. We are asking for more seedlings so that we replenish our forests,” she added.
Hurungwe District Agritex officer, Mr Andrew Mafuzhe also commended 4-H Zimbabwe for complimenting Government in climate mitigation efforts.
“As a Government, we are working on ensuring that we beat the adverse effects of climate change through scientifically proven ways. We have introduced Pfumvudza farming, which has become a game-changer for our farmers, and village business units are being rolled out countrywide.
“We are grateful to 4-H Zimbabwe for rolling out eight units in Hurungwe district,” he said.
4-H Zimbabwe director, Mr John Muchenje said localised solutions to beat climate change were needed for communities to be food self-sufficient.
“Hurungwe West’s ward 10 is in ecological region 4, and there is perennial poor rainfall. As 4-H Zimbabwe, we are engaging particularly women who face the effects of poor rains and climate change to come up with localised solutions to beat hunger.
“As a non-governmental organisation, we have introduced eight solar-powered village business units in Hurungwe alone where over 400 women benefit.
“This has seen these women care for their families,” he said.
Zimbabwe is making strides towards establishing village business units with a target of over 35 000 units countrywide.
