Chronicle Editor
Flora Fadzai Sibanda, [email protected]
WOMEN from Trenance suburb in Bulawayo have embarked on a stockfeed production project in which they process dried maize stalks and grass, which they turn into fodder and sell to farmers.
The women have formed six groups that engage in harvesting dried grass and maize stalks, which they feed into a grinding machine for processing.
The grinding mill was sourced through the help of the aspiring Zanu-PF Ward 2 Councillor, Cde Bonginkosi Moyo.
In a recent interview, the members of the project said they began the venture after realising that they were sitting on a lucrative opportunity given the demand for stockfeed.
One of the members, Ms Memory Mlambo (25), said producing stockfeed was not a complicated process as it involves going to the fields to harvest grass and maize stalks, which they pile and then transport to the grinding meal. The grass is then mixed with a salt solution.
“After that we then sort the grass to make sure it has no stones or big twigs inside. We then load it into a grinding machine, which then produces the final product,” she said.
Another member, Ms Kwanele Moyo, said they were capitalising on the fact that Trenance has a lot of bushy areas with a lot of grass and farm land.
She said they started working on the project at the start of the winter season this year when the grass started drying.
“Since we started this project our incomes have improved as we sell each bale for US$10 and we can sell up to 20 bales on a good day,” said Ms Moyo.
She said Mr Moyo had given them the grinding mill to use for free so all what they make is shared by members.
Ms Moyo, a single mother, said the project had helped her buy winter wear for her children among other basics.
Another project member, Ms Patience Moyo, said as a peri-urban setting, Trenance has many women who are struggling to make ends meet hence the project had transformed their livelihoods.
“It’s very easy money because our work is to fetch grass and maize stalk which we transport to the grinding mill,” she said.
Ms Moyo said the money she is generating from the project is enough to support her family.
“We are selling stockfeed and the demand is increasing every day as more farmers get to know our business,” she said.
Ms Moyo said at times they produce the stockfeed for orders which means what they produce would have been sold already.
Commenting on the project, Cde Bonginkosi Moyo said the project is meant to empower women so that they are able to fend for their families.
He said he had donated the grinding mill to the women to produce the stockfeed and generate money.
Online Reporter