This was made possible by assistance from International Rescue Committee through their Economic Recovery and Development programme being implemented in three districts of Manicaland: Mutasa, Mutare and Nyanga.
IRC is running the programme in partnership with Better Agriculture and Agritex, the national extension service, through funding provided by the Swedish International Development Agency.
Irrigation scheme
The project has brought about a potentially sustainable project through the Nyakomba irrigation scheme, which was established in 1994 with the help of the Japanese government.
The irrigation scheme uses water from the Gairezi River to grow Tabasco chillies.
The partnership also set up a mini-processing plant for fresh chillies, which is managed by the community.
The processing plant has created employment for youths in the area. The income generated from the sale of fresh or processed chilli is used by the farmers to enhance food security, pay for services and generate savings.
Each farmer received 2,667 tabasco chilli seedlings, enough to plant 0,2 hectares, in addition to 80kgs of Ammonium Nitrate. The farmers also received an assortment of agro chemicals which they withdrew as per need in order to cut the overall input cost.
IRS Economic Recovery and Development Coordinator, Priscilla Dembetembe, said ERDP unit has provided specialised assistance to chilli growers.
Strengthening capacity
Dembetembe said a total of 187 farmers from Nyakomba had benefited from the programme and last year they exported 60 tonnes of the produce to the US while they have projected 300 tonnes for 2012-2013 season.
“The objective of the project is to strengthen the capacity of smallholder producers to sustainably increase their food security and income,” she said.
A beneficiary of the project, Chipo Mutombo (32), together with her husband Tendai Majakara (38), said the project had completely changed their lives.
“We would like to thank IRC for bringing this programme because it restored our dignity as women,” she said.
Another beneficiary, Cathrine Mandigora said she managed to harvest 800kg last season and she was projecting 2, 500kg this season.
Nyakomba Irrigation scheme Chairperson, William Dhokota said the project had become an oasis of hope for local farmers.
“The project has not only benefitted farmers financially but has also taught them to see farming as business,”said Dhokota.
Dhokota said 98 percent of the farmers had managed to repay their loans from the proceeds and this was a testimony that the programme was a success.
IRC Country Director, Mustafa Elkanzi said smallholders were the pillars of the economy.
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what about the so called sanctions ?