Online Reporter
Judith Phiri, Sunday News Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) has commended the Government for coming up with the Village Business Units (VBUs) model saying they are playing a key role in transforming rural livelihoods in Matabeleland North by moving communities from subsistence farming towards commercial production while improving household food security and incomes.
Introduced in 2021, VBUs, registered rural development enterprises under the Presidential Rural Development Programme, have become a cornerstone of Government’s efforts to empower communities through agriculture. The programme was launched by President Mnangagwa at Jinjika Village in Mangwe District, Matabeleland South.
Each VBU is designed as a community-based commercial agricultural venture, typically comprising a one-hectare nutritional garden supported by a solar-powered borehole for irrigation, greenhouses, livestock facilities and fish ponds.
ZFU Matabeleland North chairperson Mr Busani Khumalo said the initiative was helping rural communities embrace farming as a business while creating sustainable income opportunities.
He said the union was working with farmers at village level to raise awareness about the importance of VBUs and their role in strengthening local economies.
“We are on the ground introducing this from village level to ensure all farmers in every area are aware of their significant role. This will sweep away the bogus go-between sellers from the producer to consumers,” he said.
“VBUs in the province will empower farmers from our communities, while as ZFU we are also rolling out trainings that will educate all farmers to be business-oriented.”
Mr Khumalo said the rollout of VBUs across the country had become a game changer in enhancing food and nutrition security while opening new income streams for rural households.
He urged farmers in Matabeleland North to take advantage of the programme, saying it was not only about increasing agricultural output but creating a sustainable economic model that empowers families and strengthens community participation.
In an earlier interview, Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri stressed the importance of community involvement in ensuring the success of VBUs.
“We anticipate that the entire village will rally behind the VBUs to ensure their operational success. This initiative goes beyond just farming, it is about creating a sustainable economic model that empowers families and fosters community spirit. By working together, villagers can ensure food security, which is critical,” he said.
Prof Jiri said some VBUs had already demonstrated their potential, citing the Masibambane and Zamani nutritional gardens in Lupane, which have developed into thriving business units benefiting more than 100 local beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, Mr Khumalo said the Zimbabwe Feed and Fodder Dashboard had come at an opportune time, particularly for farmers in Matabeleland North’s Natural Regions Four and Five, where livestock production remains a major livelihood activity.
“This is a game changer as far as I am concerned, especially in our Natural Regions Four and Five. In our region livestock feed is not an option but it is real survival. However, we farmers take livestock feed casually, only to react to drought instead of preparing for it,” he said.
He said the digital platform would allow farmers to access information on livestock feed availability and prices, enabling them to plan better.
“In order for us to prepare we need to be always updated on livestock feed and the costs, so we applaud the setting up of the Zimbabwe Feed and Fodder Dashboard. This will enable the farmer to plan with a bird’s eye view,” he said.
Mr Khumalo said the platform would also help protect farmers from exploitation by middlemen who often inflate livestock feed prices.
The Zimbabwe Feed and Fodder Dashboard was developed through a programme supported by the African Union and the African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) to address challenges relating to livestock feed shortages and limited access to reliable information. The platform was handed over to Government last month.
It provides farmers and policymakers with improved access to feed and fodder information, strengthens planning and enhances early warning systems for climate-related shocks.
With climate variability expected to continue affecting agricultural production, authorities say strengthening fodder systems and livestock data management will be critical in safeguarding Zimbabwe’s national herd and sustaining rural economies.
