adminBlessing Rwizi
SNV has for the past two years been working towards the restoration of two milk collection centres in Rusitu Valley under the Rural Agriculture Revitalisation Project.
The two centres are Gosheni and Paidamoyo milk collection centres, which are under Rusitu United Dairy Association and Rusitu Mayfiled Dairy Association, respectively.
So far 99 farmers and eight agricultural extension officers have benefited from the project.
The Danida funded RARP is an initiative which seeks to facilitate the commercialisation of smallholder agriculture in Zimbabwe with a view to promote improved household incomes, employment, food and nutritional security.
However, the Rusitu Dairy Project which commenced in 2014 and expected to end in March this year has seen the construction of bio-digesters in the two points to provide energy to the households, cold chain management of milk using biogas powered refrigerators and general household cooking.
The use of biogas has also decreased deforestation and air pollution in the area over the past two years. It has also resulted in the installation of solar powered boreholes at each point to fill bulk tanks with water.
SNV also aims at processing milk into products like yoghurt at these milk collection centres and facilitate linkages with the private sector for services.
SNV Manicaland horticulture team leader, Mr Cloffas Nyagumbo, said SNV’s main focus was to develop infrastructure in the area, create market linkages for the dairy farmers as well as capacity development.
“We first of all identified problems in the two areas and brought solutions to their development. There was only a foundation at Gosheni milk collection centre and we came to develop the structure from there.
“As an organisation, our main aim is to develop the infrastructure in different areas, transform the mindsets of the rural farmer from subsistence farming into commercially oriented agriculture through capacity development, business development services, training, mentoring and coaching.
“In this case, we have been training farmers and extension officers over the past two years so that when we leave they will be able to carry on from there and keep on developing their projects for not only their benefit, but Zimbabwe as a whole.
“However, to a greater extend we have been successful since we managed to restore confidence of extension officers and the farmers we are working with,” said Mr Nyagumbo.
He added that SNV managed to avail a grant of $45 000 to Rusitu Mayfield Dairy Association for the procurement of dairy animals.
Chipinge acting District Administrator, Mr Freeman Mavhiza, confirmed the developments and said the projects were life changing.
“We are grateful as a district with the work being done by SNV. They are life changing and we hope the community will put them to good use,” said Mr Mavhiza.
The project’s interventions in the dairy sector included reviving commercial activities at 35 milk collection centres nationwide, dairy innovations and technological upgrades, improving breed practices and providing access to god quality feeds.
Online Reporter