Swedish-funded project targeting small holder farmers launched

A US$4 million Inclusive, Market-Oriented Value chains for Economic Development
project (iMoved) Swedish funded agricultural project targeting 10 500 smallholder farmers
mainly women and the youth in 13 districts has been launched.

The four-year project focuses on three value chains, dairy, soya and horticulture.
It intends to set up 15 five-hectare gardens called “Green Hubs” where each farmer will
have access to 0.2 ha for growing a fodder crop, that is lucerne on 0.1 hectares and other
suitable crops on the remaining 0.1 ha.

The gardens will be supported to have a reliable water source, solar water abstraction and
infield drip water distribution system.

Speaking at the launch last week, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural
Resettlement permanent secretary, Dr John Basera noted that the iMoved project is built
on lessons learnt from previous and current programmes implemented by We Effect
Zimbabwe, a European Union funded Transforming Zimbabwe’s Dairy Value Chain project
in Zimbabwe (TranZDVC) and other previous dairy projects.

“The Inclusive, Market-Oriented Value Chains for Economic Development project is a
four-year project with the timeframe 01 December 2022 to 30 November 2026 and a
budget of MSEK 40 000 000 (US$4 000 000) funded by the Embassy of Sweden.

“The overarching goal of the project is: ‘To contribute to an inclusive, market-oriented
value chain development of the dairy, soya beans and horticulture sector for sustainable
livelihoods of female, male and youth smallholder farmers,’” said Dr Basera.

“The project is targeting 10 500 smallholder farmers in 13 districts of Zimbabwe for the
three value chains, dairy, soya and horticulture.

“The project will also graduate nine viable Milk Collection Centres into business hubs
which will then be linked to large processors. Ten new integrators will also be recruited to
each mobilise 50 dairy farmers using an out-grower model through an anchor farmer.”

Dr Basera said for soybeans approximately 4 000 female and male farmers will be trained
in soya beans agronomy and their value addition, the objective being to increase incomes
from soya bean production by up to 50 percent and increase productivity from 800 kg/ha
to 1 500 kg/ha.

Added to that, a total of 13 Soya bean Processing Hubs (SPHs) will be set up to crush
cooking oil, make soya bean cake and make soya meal.

“These SPHs will either be run by an Oil Processors Association (OPA) or individual
agripreneurs. In terms of infrastructure, the project intends to set up 15 five-hectare
gardens called ‘Green Hubs’ where each farmer will have access to 0,2 ha for growing a
fodder crop, that is lucerne on 0.1 ha and other suitable crops on the remaining 0.1 ha.

The gardens will be supported to have a reliable water source, solar water abstraction and
infield drip water distribution system.”

Dr Basera said to contribute to the realisation of the project goal, the project will work
with partners to create linkages between smallholder farmers, private sector companies
and other stakeholders in the dairy, soya beans and horticulture value chains, to increase
productivity and incomes.

“The project will have a specific focus on women and youth, tackling challenges that
previously have excluded them from these value chains and denied them the opportunity
to benefit from these value chains as per the project motto: ‘Markets bridging gender
gaps.’

“The project intends to capacitate partners and smallholder farmers to advocate and lobby
local authorities and policy makers towards an enabling environment for the viability of
the sectors.

It has been shown that a successful dairy value chain requires complementary value chains
that can help plug the inherent cashflow gaps likely to be experienced.” With the main cost
driver in milk production being the cost of feed as it currently stands at 76 percent of
variable costs, smallholder farmers especially women and young people will benefit from
diversified income sources and complementary value chains that will promote on-farm
feed formulation.

A succession and upscaling of the celebrated matching grant facility, semen facility, dairy
models, activities on reducing cost of feed, renewable energy, value chain partnerships,
digital platforms, financial and market linkages will be done under iMoved. He said at
present, the national average milk production per cow is 14 litres/cow per day, adding that
more needs to be done to increase productivity.

“Promoting soyabean production for feed formulation and soyabeans direct sales, as
envisaged in this project, can increase protein availability, and ultimately contribute to
reduced feed costs and increased production per cow.

Soyabean
“The production of fodder will also be enhanced through the promotion of composite
green hubs, where feed entrepreneurs will grow fodder like rye grass and lucerne, as well
as high-value crops like sugar beans, green mealies, cabbage and covo or rape.

“These horticulture crops will be for local sale with guaranteed income for project
participants while fodder will be channeled into the feed market increasing availability
and lowering costs. Initiatives under iMoved are in line with the Government of
Zimbabwe’s 2030 vision of transforming the country into a middle-income economy by
2030.- The Chronicle