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A shot in the arm for Shurugwi women
Tendai Manhundu, The Sun (Gweru)
May 18, 2012

The Royal Kingdom of Netherlands has emerged to be the earthly god for Shurugwi women and children who have been wallowing in poverty and famine for the past decade in the drought stricken area of Chikato which falls under Chief Nhema.

The embassy which has joined hands with Shurugwi Partners, a community based organisation to change the livelihoods of the marginalised people in rural communities especially women and children has so far injected a total of $25,000 in a market gardening project in Mutsiba village.

Speaking to The Sun, Veronica Giya, one of the project beneficiaries applauded the Netherlands embassy for its kind gesture of empowering women and children.

"This project has transformed me into a business person, I can now buy food for the family and even send the children to school with the income from this garden. I thank the Netherlands embassy for this kind gesture," said Veronica.

The project which commenced on the 1st of August 2011 saw the establishment of a community market garden at a bushy area which was first cleared, fenced and a borehole drilled. Various vegetables have been produced from the garden which include tomatoes, cabbages, rape and butternut.

The vegetables are being sold to nearby boarding schools and supermarkets.

"So far, the garden produce is being sold to nearby shops and Hange High School. The project is actually a resounding success because farmers are getting a lot of income from the garden," said Christopher Maforimbo, a field officer.

The farmers have also established a money savings scheme where they can borrow money and return after vegetable sales. Each household also benefited from the small livestock scheme that saw them receiving goats and chickens for rearing.

In an interview with The Sun, Councillor for Chikato ward, Kenneth Phebeni thanked the Netherlands embassy for the project and drilling a borehole in the garden. He said that the area has very few water sources and some villagers have to travel for more than 3km to get water as most of the water sources in the area are drying up.

"This area has very few water sources which are almost dry. Vurombo, Mapako and Zanando villages are at a critical stage," said Phebeni.

He also went on to say that his area has been hit by sever drought, following the 2011/12 drought season and this project came as a blessing to the people of Mutsiba.

"Though the government introduced the grain loan scheme which saw each house hold receiving 50kg of maize, maize seed and fertilisers that should be paid for after harvest, it was not a remedy to the famine problem but with this garden project, I think it comes as a solution and addresses the food problem once and for all" said Phebeni.

Confirmed reports from the Agriculture Research and Extension Services (AGRITEX) have it that the area has been receiving erratic rains yearly for more than a decade.

"This area is receiving erratic rains almost every year and its always hunger stricken. People are surviving on food handouts from NGOs like Oxfam and Christian Care and this garden has just proved to solve the bread and butter issues for several families, said David Banarbas, an (AGRITEX) Extension Supervisor based in Chikato.

The Agriculture Extension Worker for the area, Solidarity Bushe said the drought years were mainly due to climate change which is causing weather changes world wide.

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