The empowerment scheme will see beneficiaries receiving one or two heifers per family. Nestle has imported heifers from South Africa to kick-start the project.
The DES will assist communal milk producers with knowledge and technical skills transfer at village level. It will also supply the producers with dairy heifers with the aim of enhancing nutrition and creating employment.
Speaking at Matongo Business Centre in Marange during Nestle Zimbabwe’s familiarisation tour of the province, the company’s Managing Director, Kumbirai Katsande, expressed his company’s commitment to equip communal farmers with skills and resources to improve their livelihoods.
“Beneficiaries will receive between one or two heifers and undergo training to ensure the success of this project. We have collaborated with other stakeholders like ARDA and agricultural colleges like Gwebi (Agriculture College) to provide training and cover on the ground,” he said.
He added that the scheme would also change the lives of villagers financially.
“When properly looked after, a dairy cow will produce 15 litres of milk per day. This ensures at least an income of $15 a day per cow,” he said.
He revealed that the heifers would be treated as loans and money paid back would go into a revolving fund in order to expand the programme to other beneficiaries.
Villagers applauded Nestle for empowering them, saying the programme would go a long way towards alleviating poverty and nutritional problems.
Post published in: Agriculture