Barclays programme benefits 500 farmers

OVER 500 farmers in the Midlands Province are benefiting from a Fit for Life partnership programme financed by Barclays Bank, the Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) has said.

The Fit for Life programme is a partnership between ZFU and Barclays Bank that seeks to finance youths who are into farming.

ZFU Midlands provincial manager Mr Alpha Manjera said the programme targets young farmers who are involved in different farming enterprises.

“The Fit for Life programme is targeting to finance young farmers in the province. It equips them with financial assistance as well as knowledge to go about with their farming activities,” he said.

He said the programme is currently running in two districts.

“For now, the programme has only started in Shurugwi and Gokwe South, and we are hoping that young farmers from other districts will start benefiting soon,” he said. Tawanda Tshuma (26), a young farmer based in Shurugwi, is elated to be part of the programme.

“This is quite a good programme and am happy to be part of it. As a young farmer, l have learnt a lot on how to keep my farming business running and l also benefited financially from this project,” he said.

Recently, about 9 000 farmers from the province benefited from the Climate Smart Agriculture programme, offered by ZFU to ensure food security.

The programme seeks to transform agricultural systems to ensure food security in the face of climate change.

Climate Smart Agriculture programme, is a brainchild of United Nations

United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and was launched in 2010 to promote agricultural best practices, particularly integrated crop management, conservation agriculture, inter-cropping, improved seeds and fertiliser management, as well as supporting increased investment in agricultural research.