What was needed was an ongoing means by which they could earn a living,” said Gogo Chinodakufa, 65, in a recent interview.
“To this end, I mobilised finances from well-wishers, and used the money to buy inputs with which to start farming projects. A group of youths and widows identified the land suitable for farming activities. The farmers share information that enables them to improve their land and crop management skills,” she said.
The farming projects have seen beneficiaries using land in Seke’s Units F,N and P to grow maize, sweet potatoes, soya beans, vegetables and other crops. Currently, 12 youths, 10 elderly people and nine widows are participants in the project launched in 2007. This year, they are expecting to harvest a total of four tonnes of maize.
A great relief
After each household receives its share, the remaining crop will be sold. “Profits from sales are used to purchase inputs such as seed and fertiliser for the next season and the remaining money is shared among members.
“I am glad to say that following the launch of this project, our members are now able to provide food for their families without having to beg. It’s a great relief to me that youths now have a sustainable source of income, because in the absence of formal employment, they tend to turn to drug abuse and other criminal activities. But this project is inspiring them to work hard and earn an honest living,” said Gogo Chinodakufa.
No more begging
The farming scheme has given birth to other income generating projects such as carpentry, with members using money they receive from selling farm produce to venture into activities of their own. “We have youths who, with encouragement, have now developed their own small business enterprises, using profits from the farming project,” said Gogo Chinodakufa.
One of the project’s beneficiaries, Gogo Lucia Mapfeketsa, 71, paid tribute to Gogo Chinodakufa for having developed for her a means to earn a living. “My life has changed for the better since the introduction of this project. Before, I used to struggle to provide for my family and most of the time, we were forced to resort to begging from neighbours, but this has all changed now,” said Gogo Mapfeketsa.
The coordinator of the farming project, Wilfred Ndiweni, 34, said: “In this time of high unemployment, this project has come as a lifesaver for youths in my area. The scheme has become our source of livelihood and we no longer have to worry about finding work because we are able to pay for rentals, school fees and groceries from this farming enterprise.”
But he expressed concern over the issue of “land barons” who were threatening to take some of their farming space for housing purposes. “This is our greatest worry because some of our fields have been earmarked for housing and with the pace at which open spaces are being claimed, we have fears that our farming activities will be halted. This would adversely affect many families,” said Ndiweni.
Post published in: Analysis