NYANGA — Scores of small-holder farmers in Manicaland province are benefitting from an economic recovery programme being spearheaded by a non-governmental organisation which teaches them good farming methods, loans and linking them to lucrative markets.
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The two-year Economic Recovery and Development (ERD) programme, which is being championed by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in conjunction with the government and the private sector, has resulted in food security and increased income for some communities in the districts it operates in.
So far, the programme is supporting 2 512 farmers in Mutasa, Mutare and Nyanga districts. It focuses mainly on horticultural produces such as potatoes, garlic, onions, sugar beans, paprika, tabacco, chillies, honey, ground nuts and indigenous chickens.
Gilbert Urombo (20), an orphan who joined the project after his mother passed on, has been paying school fees for his brothers, providing food as well as procuring agricultural inputs.
“Had it not been for this programme, life was not going to be easy for us since our mother was our breadwinner,” said Urombo. “Ever since my mother passed on, I have managed to care for my brothers as well as paying their fees.”
IRC’s ERD coordinator, Priscilla Dembetembe said the recovery programme was mooted after realising that farmers were failing to recapitalise their operations, following the dollarisation of the economy in 2009 after a decade-long economic meltdown.
She said the programme had ensured food security in areas it is being implemented and created employment for nearly 3 000 people.
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Dembetembe said about 60% of the farmers managed to service their loans and realised incomes which they reinvested into purchasing agricultural inputs.
“We also linked groundnuts farmers with buyers in Makoni, while those who produce honey were linked with Savanna Delights and Food Lovers Market both in Harare.
Those who produce sugar beans were linked with Kettex and Capsicum companies,” she said.
