Story by Jerold Sasa
WOMEN in rural communities are benefiting from agroecological gardens which have been established by the government and its development partners to ensure food security and promote sustainable development.
One such agroecological garden established in Mtoko by the government in partnership with the Zimbabwe Women Bureau and Oak Foundation has a membership of 36 women drawn from four villages in the Chiutsi area of Mutoko.
The garden sits on four hectares and has two solar-powered boreholes, a drip irrigation system and a 9000-litre reservoir which pumps water.
It is a thriving plantation of maize, vegetables and sugar beans which will be ready for harvesting soon.
“This place is very dry so we have not been spared the effects of climate change, however with such a project I think our lives have been transformed as we can now look after ourselves,” project chairperson, Rosemary Chiripanyanga said.
“This project is set to improve our household food security and household income as we are going to sell our crops while also producing for our consumption,” weighed in Haazvineyi Chibanda, a beneficiary.
The project partners are equally excited about the progress made so far.
“We are happy that we have managed to partner with rural women from Mutoko for this project which has proved to be bearing fruits so far in this area,” said the Director for the Oak Foundation, Mr Clayton Zezo.
“Rural women need to be supported and this is one of the ways we can support through such sustainable projects, and we are quite excited about how the crops are growing,” the Project Coordinator for the Zimbabwe Women Bureau, Howard Tavengwa noted.
The Minister of Women Affairs, SMEs and Community Development, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said the project resonates with the national vision of an upper middle-income society by 2030.
“This is vision 2030 at play, we are committed to improving the lives of our rural women and today we are celebrating this milestone achievement as we commemorate Rural Women’s Day.”
The reflection on women’s empowerment comes after the International Day for Rural Women on the 15th of this month.
