Nutrition gardens for communities

20 Aug, 2021 - 00:08 0 Views
Nutrition gardens for communities

The ManicaPost

Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter

THE Government, in partnership with the Angel of Hope, is rolling out multi-faceted farming hubs aimed at scaling up sustainable food and nutritional security, income, opportunities for value addition and development of agro-business value chains in rural areas.

Dubbed the Integrated Community Faming Business Hubs (ICFBH) — the initiative is being implemented with the assistance of the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement in the Madziwa area of Ward 20, in Makoni Central.

The four-hectare project, which will target beneficiaries from 12 villages, is already in progress.

The project will be officially launched in Makoni next month before being rolled out in other districts across the country.

It is being implemented in tandem with horticulture recovery and growth plan, which seeks to reconfigure the industry towards being private sector driven.

It is also paired with a transformative rural horticulture sub-sector under the Presidential Horticulture Scheme, covering 1.8 million rural households.

The thrust hinges on nutrition, income generation and rural agro-industry development to create a critical mass for local industrial beneficiation of both indigenous and exotic vegetables and fruits.

Agriculture extension specialist, Mrs Otillia Mabvongwe said the project will have a dip-tank, nutrition garden (1.3 hectares), fruit orchards, fowl runs for roadrunner chickens, fish ponds for youths, one hectare of pastures, a solar powered borehole, an office and toilets.

“For us to attain Vision 2030, we need to increase agriculture production and productivity, especially by smallholder farmers to ensure food and nutrition security and enhanced income.

“It is against that background that this project is being implemented to build resilience among rural farmers, while increasing opportunities for value addition and the development of agro-business value chains,” she said.

Studies on the hubs reveal that improved nutrition and food preference are known to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables, bring health and nutrition behaviour change, and have a positive effect on adolescent health.

“This presents an innovative solution to ensure food and nutrition security, employment of youth and women, and an alternative way to generate extra income in rural communities.

 

“This is a cost-effective and holistic garden model aimed at providing nutritious, organic and diverse fresh vegetables to marginal rural families throughout the year. It aims to develop self-sufficiency in food and nutrition by promoting cultivation of nutritious foods,” said Mrs Chibvongwe.

Agritex head for Manicaland, Mrs Phillipa Rwambiwa, said the local community must embrace the project and transform their lives.

“People should embrace this project meant to promote livelihoods and transform lives by reducing the income gap between rural and urban people. Government initiated the project in line with the Vision 2030 thrust, so do not be left behind,” said Mrs Rwambiwa.

Zanu PF DCC chairman for Makoni, Cde Albert Nyakuedzwa said the integrated project will play an important role in enhancing national food security and dietary diversity to combat malnutrition in rural areas.

“This project is a step forward, and target-oriented to improve the food and nutritional security of poor families. Food is a necessity, and nutrition is essential. Healthy food is not only safe for the body, but also nutritionally effective,” said Cde Nyakuedzwa.

Mr Sherpard Nyika said the project was relevant to the needs of beneficiaries and targeted populations.

“The project is inclusive, it involves women, men and youths — that is the whole family. This is the first of its kind in Zimbabwe.

“It is modelled around a dip-tank to encourage farmers to dip their cattle to control the January disease which is killing cattle in communal areas. It has a nutritional garden for horticultural crops like vegetables, beans, tomatoes, onion, garlic, turmeric as well as fruit trees.

“Beneficiaries will be involved in roadrunners and fish production for consumption and commercial purposes,” said Mr Nyika.

Mr Nyika said livestock farmers will grow a hectare of irrigated pastures and harvest hay as animal feed.

“Hay-making is possible for smallholder livestock farmers, with or without some form of mechanisation. They can either use the hay for their animals or sell it for profit. Hay in the barn is like having money in the bank,” said Mr Nyika.

 

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