Horticulture farmers sharpen skills

AT least 170 agricultural technical extension workers have undergone Government training to guide and equip at least 3 000 smallholder horticulture farmers with skills to boost production for the export market.

The initiative, launched last year under the Zimbabwe Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion project (Zim-Shep), runs until 2024.

The training of the agriculture experts now paves way for the identification of beneficiaries in eight rural provinces.

It is part of Government’s broader initiative to ensure maximum production on farms. Zim-Shep project director, Mr Benard Mache, said:

“The trainings are conducted to strengthen the linkages between farmers and market actors and to increase the agricultural incomes for small-scale horticultural farmers.

“They are also meant to enable farmers to sustainably enhance their production and respond appropriately to market requirements.”

The programme is in line with Government’s thrust to eradicate poverty, achieve food security and promote sustainable agriculture as envisaged in Vision 2030.

The Zim-Shep project is similar to successful models imlemented in countries like Kenya that have raised incomes of small-scale farmers involved in horticulture production.

ZimTrade chief executive officer Mr Allan Majuru said understanding market needs was crucial for the development of smallholder farmers.

“Before the farmer selects a product or variety to grow, they first need to understand what the market needs,” he said.

“This way, they can be assured that their products will have a ready consumer when harvested.

“For example, if the market is interested in baby carrots, if a farmer produces fully-grown carrots, no one will buy them regardless of quality and taste.

“So, it is important for farmers to be aware of market needs, expectations and even offerings of competition because marketing deals with creating a product that can compete.

“Understanding market requirements increases sales, which in turn improves the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, the majority of whom are women.

Research shows that women in sub-Saharan Africa more than 60 percent employed women work in agriculture and do up to 80 percent of the work.