Online ReporterSukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
THE establishment of a village business unit (VBU) has brought significant relief to villagers in the Mlomoliwotho area of Umzingwane District, who are now aiming to expand into value addition of their produce.
The VBU has helped address long standing water challenges that previously restricted farmers from pursuing viable agricultural production. The project has also ensured villagers now have access to safe drinking water.
The establishment of the Mlomoliwotho VBU is part of Government’s broader vision to set up at least one VBU in every village to enhance food security.
Mlomoliwotho VBU chairperson, Mr Honiphani Moyo, said they were now operating an organised business enterprise benefitting more than 60 households.
“This is our second cycle of crops, which we have planted at our VBU. Last year, we grew sugar beans and made money, which has helped empower us and our families.
We are operating this VBU as a business entity, which has helped us to have an organised approach to our operations. This will help us to keep track of our operations and production so that we can maximise.
“In the past, it was difficult for us to irrigate as we were facing water challenges but now we have a reliable source of water, which can guarantee us production throughout the year. We are no longer limited to rain fed agriculture,” he said.
Ms Sinikiwe Dube, a member of the VBU, said the project came at a crucial time, as communities had been struggling to sustain agricultural activities due to unpredictable weather patterns driven by climate change. She said they were now food secure and able to better support their families, adding that the VBU benefits the wider community through improved access to nutritious produce at reasonable prices.
“We don’t want to end at producing only but we are exploring strategies on how we can value add our produce so that we get more income.
A lot of people are now into crop production, which has left the market flooded but we want to tap into value addition as we feel there is still a gap there. Our focus will be organic products as that’s what people prefer nowadays,” she said.
In an interview, Umzingwane District Agritex Extension Officer, Mr Bhekilizwe Ncube, said introducing farmers to irrigation had encouraged a mindset shift towards treating farming as a business. He said farmers were increasingly appreciating the importance of value addition.
Mr Ncube said the district has 21 VBUs, 11 of which are operating at full capacity. He said the initiative is boosting food security, strengthening community resilience and supporting economic growth by enabling farmers to add value to their produce.
“Eight VBUs have been established along the Umzingwane Dam pipeline, as part of a broader district wide programme that is repositioning smallholder agriculture as a viable economic activity rather than mere subsistence. Communities are now experiencing tangible improvements in household incomes and food security since the establishment of the VBUs.
“As we move into NDS2, our main focus in these VBUs is shifting to cash crops, which will further improve livelihoods, foster development, and ensure food security.
Of the 21 VBUs in the district, 11 are fully functional, with eight along the Umzingwane Dam pipeline. We believe our communities have been empowered,” he said.
Matabeleland South Province pioneered the VBU concept when President Mnangagwa launched the Jinjika Presidential Rural Horticulture Scheme in Makorokoro, Mangwe, in 2022. Since then, more than 140 VBUs have been established, transforming the province into a greenbelt.
VBUs are Government driven, community based enterprises designed to promote rural industrialisation, create employment and improve livelihoods by shifting rural communities from subsistence farming to market oriented agriculture.
Through shared ownership, irrigation development and training, VBUs empower villagers by generating income, ensuring food security and strengthening access to markets and essential services.
They are expected to drive rural modernisation and industrialisation nationwide.
The business units fall under the ongoing Presidential Rural Development Programme, which also includes drilling 50 000 solar powered boreholes for irrigation.
VBUs are equipped with irrigation systems and greenhouses supporting horticultural production.
Under the programme, 35 000 VBUs and 9 600 school business units are expected to be established by 2026.
The Presidential Rural Development Programme forms part of Government’s Rural Development 8.0 initiative, whose other components include the Vision 30 Accelerator Model, Pfumvudza/Intwasa, the Presidential Poultry Scheme, the Presidential Goat Scheme, the Presidential Fisheries Scheme, the Presidential Blitz Tick Grease Scheme and the Presidential Cotton Inputs Scheme.
— @DubeMatutu
