adminBlessing Rwizi
WORLD Vision has this year injected $5 million under the Food and Non-Food Items (NFIs) which saw massive rehabilitation works of dysfunctional irrigation schemes and other farming related projects in Chimanimani, Chipinge and Buhera districts. The initiative is sponsored by USAID. The project was introduced as Food for Asset Project where participating villagers in the dry areas are rewarded with sorghum and cooking oil amongst other goodies as a token of appreciation for work done.
So far 435 tonnes of sorghum, 10 000 bags of cement and irrigation pipes among other equipment have been imported from America for distribution into the three districts.
The remainder 2 000 tonnes of sorghum, 8 000 bags of cement and other items are expected to be in the country anytime.
Irrigation schemes that benefited from the $5 million grant include Gudyanga, Mutambara, Cashel, Chakohwa, Maunganidze, Chibuwe, Bvumbura — all in Chimanimani and a number of animal farming projects in Buhera district.
Three dams were built in Chimanimani, Chipinge and Buhera.
World Vision deputy chief of the Food for Asset Project, Mr Richard Ndou said the remaining seven dams will be completed in or before 2018.
Buhera district will have three dams constructed under the programme while Chipinge and Chimanimani will have two, respectively.
World Vision has also reconstructed 1 000 meters of Mutambara irrigation scheme’s main canal and 3 900 meters infield canals.
The organisation has also assisted many villagers in these areas with ideas that help them to generate money and earn a living through projects like money lending projects.
Mr Kenneth Munyengerwi, the World Vision Food for Asset programme manager said the organisation chose Chimanimani, Buhera and Chipinge districts since they were the most affected by drought in the province.
“These are the most affected areas in the province and the main aim of World Vision is to open up the people’ eyes and give them ideas that earn them sustainable livelihoods and nutritional health in difficult times.
“It is quite important to teach someone how to fish than giving them fish every day. We are quite sure that by 2018 we will be done with our projects and this province would have learnt something by then,” said Mr Munyengerwi.
Gudyanga Irrigation Scheme chairperson, Mr Edward Dinhira had this to say:
“The Food for Assert program has inspired many lives as it has brought back to life our irrigation scheme. Most of the people coming to work here do not own farming portions but they know that they will benefit from it somehow. People are also working hard since they know that they will earn 50kg of sorghum after every 20 days.
If World Vision had not rendered this kind of assistance, to tell you the truth, I do not know where we would have been. The Gudyanga community really appreciates the gesture by the organisation. It has shown that it has the lives of rural people at heart, giving us ideas and food. Our area is progressing developmentally”.
Online Reporter