CHIPINGE - Marginalized women here say a new seed multiplication project for the area will economically empower them to fight poverty. (Pictured: DR DEREK FEE)
The Common Market for Eastern Southern Africa (COMESA) and the European Union recently signed a 20 million agreement to support an agro input project known as COMRAP. A total of 142 small scale farmers drawn from Chibuwe, Tawona, Bwerudza and Mutema irrigation schemes, covering 86 hectares, received inputs from COMESA.
Eighty percent of the beneficiaries are women who will specialize in small grains such as sugar beans, rapoko and groundnuts. COMESA gender director Emilia Tembo, who was representing secretary general Sindiso Ngwenya, said the programme would contribute to improving rural households.
COMRAP as key in contributing to the improvement of rural food security and livelihoods in the COMESA region through improving access to finance, fertilizer and seed, she said. The head of the EU Delegation in Zambia, Derek Fee, who is also accredited to COMESA, said: “As you all know, the developing world has been particularly hit by the soaring food prices, with often devastating effects in terms of household food security.
I very much hope that this EU support will contribute to alleviating the impact of the soaring food prices, and that the benefits of the project will be substantial for the smallholder farmers in the region”. Programme beneficiary Lizi Hove, of Mutema Irrigation Scheme thanked donors for empowering women to be self-sustainable and fight poverty at household level. EU Food Facility-funded COMRAP will establish a network of about 6,000 certified agro dealers in COMESAs eight landlocked countries where the costs of inputs are highest.
Post published in: News