Story by Yolanda Moyo
A vibrant horticultural project is blossoming at Ntabazinduna in Umguza district, where women and youths have become active players in the country’s economic development.
Villagers in Ntabanzinduna, many of whom previously relied on subsistence farming, are cultivating a diverse range of crops which have become a source of economic empowerment.
The project is being implemented by government in collaboration with Gender Links and was launched two years ago and provides crucial support to the farmers in the form of technical expertise and market linkages.
“Before the project, our lives revolved around struggling to grow enough food for our families. Now, we are able to not only feed ourselves but also generate income. This has empowered us women, giving us financial independence and a sense of self-worth,” a villager who spoke to the ZBC News said.
Another stated, “With this project, as women we are seeing a change in the gender-based violence because of the self-independence we have gained here. In most cases financial constraints perpetuate GBV, but having an income as a woman reduces this.”
Looking ahead, Thuthukani Luthi B project is set to shift towards piloting high-value crops specifically for the export market.
Umguza RDC agronomist, Mr Lionel Maphosa said, “We are setting up a demo garden with an intention to set up a prototype for the export market. When we designed the project it was so that we can aggregate local crops this year we will be doing our trial crop for the export market.”
Government has also expressed strong support for the project, recognising its significance in driving rural industrialisation.
“It is vet possible under His Excellency vision of transforming business hubs. When we talk about rural industrialization we are referring to the projects such as these not the big industries that people imagine. Thanks to government and its developmental partner gender links for implementing this project. One of the things that we are introducing is the production index to ascertain what a province can grow to feed its population. That is the only way that we can reach food security,” said the Permanent Secretary for Presidential Affairs, Office of the President and Cabinet, Engineer Tafadzwa Muguti.
The success of the Ntabazinduna horticultural project is expected to serve as an inspiration for other communities across the country as it demonstrates the transformative power of community driven initiatives towards the attainment of an upper middle-income society by 2030.
