Revitalization of Smallholder Agricultural Revitalization of Smallholder Agricultural

Production in ZimbabweProduction in Zimbabwe

Quarterly Newsletter. 1st Quarter 2012

Revival of Tea and Coffee Production in Honde Valley

The project aims to revitalize small hold-er agricultural production in Honde Val-ley through increased financial viability, livelihoods improvement and employ-ment creation of commercially orientat-ed tea and coffee farmers

The project tar-The project tar-

gets 2,000 com-gets 2,000 com-mercially orient-mercially orient-

ed farmers (500 ed farmers (500

coffee growers, coffee growers,

1200 tea growers 1200 tea growers and 300 summer and 300 summer

crop beneficiar-crop beneficiar-

ies) ies)

By Thomas Ferenando

In October 2010 I attended an awareness meeting chaired by

RSAPZ staff and I registered my name. Before the inception of

the project food was not enough for the family. Land under

cultivation was underutilized. I

did not have any coffee since ac-

cess to inputs was not easy but it

was made easier through the use

of Agro dealers. I earned average

income from farming since mar-

kets were not readily available and

crop diversity was depressed. I

received maize (10kgs) and seed

beans (10kgs) and 1 bag compound D, 2 bags AN fertilizer,

lime fertilizer, 1 bag compound J, 2 bags SSP, 5 000 plants, 1

knapsack spray, and 1kg copper ox chloride. In addition l re-

ceived trainings, extension support and farmer field schools

from ZCM, Agritex and SNV. Field days and prospects of irriga-

tion rehabilitation also provided further impetus to work harder.

I now have enough food for the family and surplus to give dogs,

“kukandira imbwa”. Crop yield in the last agricultural season

increased tremendously and I also managed to buy irrigation

pipes from crop sales. I have retained sugar beans seed for

the next agricultural season. Crop

diversity from the inputs support

project has also improved greatly in

addition to household income which

has enabled me to buy books and

payment of school fees for my chil-

dren. Soil fertility and structure has

been improved due to conservation

agriculture. Given the current

achievements, I intend to buy cows and building a new house. I

am also planning to start new projects in small livestock and

crop production all year round if the irrigation rehabilitation ex-

ercise is completed. At a community level, farming knowledge

of the community improved through trainings and field days.

RSAPZ Brings Development Community

By Chimusembu Maud

I became part of the RSAPZ project through community meetings in coffee, maize and sugar beans convened by Agritex and

World Vision staff in December 2010. Before the introduction of the RSAPZ project, coffee fields were dried and there were no

inputs on the local market which was a threat to the food security of my family. The situation was further worsened by the de-

cline in coffee prices at the local market; as a result we abandoned coffee farming. Most of our productive time was spend

through selling cheap labor which had become our main livelihoods activity. I benefited from the RSAPZ project through ac-

cess to fertilizers (2 * 50kgs), beans (10kgs) and maize (10kgs) and coffee chemicals. I also benefited immensely from field

days and demonstration sites which opened opportunities for learning. The input support project has enabled me to resuscitate

my coffee plot which l had abandoned during the unabated economic decline period. I have realized cash from farming that l

am now able to send my children to school. Food security for my family has also improved greatly given that l am now able to

have 3 meals per day in addition to the fact that l am no longer working on other people’s plots. Income realized from farming

proceeds has enabled me to secure birth certificates for my four children and a retake of my National I. D. I am now settled in

mind, having a peace of mind. I envisage a community in which the local coffee pulpery will be resuscitated and improved

community social cohesion through farming. I also foresee a community in which net school enrolment will increase and a re-

duction in poverty and food insecurity.

Revival of Coffee Growing: A Comfort for Widows

By Duri Martha

It was sometime in October 2010 when Agritex Staff conveyed an awareness meeting about the RSAPZ project aimed at provid-

ing inputs for the summer season and I was chosen as a farmer. Before introduction of the RSAPZ project, I could not afford

inputs and crop production declined dras- tically. Yields were very depressed in Honde

valley due to the absence of inputs on the local market. Sometimes inputs were availa-

ble but fetching at exorbitant prices. Mar- keting of produce was mainly farmer to farmer

as we could not manage to produce sur- plus food. I benefited from summer crop in-

puts package which was comprised of fertilizers, sugar beans and maize seed. I also

benefited from extension support which saw me getting to know more about farming

as business and record keeping. I only wish if the project had started earlier. You

cannot prosper if you do farming in dark- ness without records or realizing whether you

are making profit or not. Trainings in farm- ing as a business has enabled us to adopt

farming from a commercial perspective and the project has also created local employment opportunities given that my son is

currently employed by SNV as a para-trainer.

I fore see a brighter future ahead of me through application of the farming techniques I received. Completion of the irrigation

scheme in the area will increase crop production and resuscitation of the coffee pulpery is highly likely to increase coffee produc-

tion in Honde Valley.

Farming as Business in Samanga, Honde Valley

Lazy Farmers Loath Loan Repayments

By Memory Mareya

I heard about the project from Extension Officers at meeting at Dumba Shopping Centre, in October 2010. We were divided into

clusters of 10 members whom provided group guarantees for each other. Before the project came into the district, land was un-

derutilized. Harvests were better before the project given that RSAPZ inputs were delayed. Because we had no access to mar-

kets, buyers from towns used to purchase our produce. From being part of the RSAPZ project, l became a recipient on an input

package comprising of coffee seedlings, maize and sugar beans seed and fertilizers. I also benefited from extension support and

education from para trainers.

The concept of group guarantees is unacceptable since some of the members are difficult to work with. I do not like being put in

groups with lazy people who will draw you back. In fact you will end up paying for the lazy farmers. Inputs price of US80 for the

input were too high. Despite these setbacks, trainings and extension support have been enlightening. The project has potential

be very successful if inputs are delivered before the onset of the summer season.

Given the current situation, I can fore see that I will end up failing to buy my own inputs and children will end up not willing to

work together with me because of the poor results. At a community level, the community will be able to construct better loads for

easy transportation of farm produce. Farmers will be able to send children to school and more employment opportunities can be

created through farming.

Tea Recovery & Growing

The collage of pictures above shows tea nursery, recovered tea plants and farmers picking the crop. Tea picking is now both

manual and mechanised.

Mutasa sub- office

P O Box 82 Mutasa

Tel (02) 282435/6

Cell: 077-3192105

Email: abraham_muzulu@wvi.org

National Office

59B Joseph Road

Mt Pleasant, Harare

P.O Box 2420

Harare

Relief office

Duly's Building,

Corner 11th and Jaison Moyo,

Bulawayo