The ManicaPost
Liberty Dube Farming Correspondent
A TOTAL of 1 700 farmers in Chimanimani are set to benefit from a Cyclone Idai agricultural recovery project that has been funded to the tune of USD$572 836 by the USAID.
USAID is funding the Feed the Future Zimbabwe Crop Development (ZTFZ-CD), which is being implemented by Linkages for Economic Advancement of the Disadvantaged (LEAD).
The one-year Cyclone Idai recovery project is being implemented in Wards 9, 17 and 18.
Following the furious Cyclone Idai, FTFZ-CD received $572 836 from USAID to assist the farmers’ recovery path through initiation of viable farming ventures to generate income, improve food security, restore livelihoods and increase their resilience to future disasters.
The project is targeting 1 694 beneficiaries, 1 069 women and 625 men.
FTFZ-CD has been working with the beneficiaries since the 2015/16 season.
The project seeks to improve incomes, nutrition and food security of smallholder farmers through agronomic training and technical assistance on good farming practices, business skills development and improved nutrition and hygiene practices.
Cyclone Idai reversed the gains that the farmers had achieved on production, productivity and income.
One of the beneficiaries, a Mr Muusha, of Mhakwe Ward 18 said the programme was a lifesaver.
“It was such a devastating period. The disaster ravished all that we had amassed, particularly livestock. This revival programme is very important as it gives us a strong leg to stand of after losing virtually everything. At least we have hope for the future through the resuscitation of our livelihoods. We hope that the coming on board of these organisations will also attract other players to help resuscitate horticulture in this area,” he said.
A LEAD official had this to say: “We are capacitating the farmers with technical assistance to increase agricultural productivity. Some of them had lost almost everything during Clycone Idai and this programme is meant to assist them recover from the losses. The aim is to ensure they continue with the work they have been doing with our support before. The response has been very good and there has been good progress in terms of farmers adapting to new ideas. We work closely with Agritex and other Government departments on issues of food and nutritional security”.
