ZIM-SHEP　Project News vol. 28 (April 2025) "Endline Survey in Mashonaland West and Masviongo in Novemver 2024"

The ZIM-SHEP Head Office and Mashonaland West extension staff conducted the Endline Survey at Chomutamba irrigation scheme (Zvimba District), Munyati irrigation scheme (Mhondoro-Ngezi District) and Magunje irrigation scheme (Hurungwe District) from the 6th to 8th of November 2024.
Masvingo Endline Survey exercise was implemented from the 25th to the 27th of October 2024 at Musaverema irrigation scheme (Mwenezi District), Manyeredzi irrigation scheme (Chiredzi District) and Ranga irrigation scheme (Gutu Dist.).

The purpose of the Endline Survey is to measure the achievement and progress of the project by the farmers themselves responding to the questionnaire with the changes in their farming situations and livelihoods. At the same time, the farmers get an appreciation of how their farming activities have improved through adoption of the SHEP approach. The exercise empowered farmers to further improve their farming as a business in the next cropping season.

Many farmers expressed their gratitude for the comprehensive ZIM-SHEP training programs, which focused on both production techniques and marketing aspects.

As a result of SHEP’s “Grow to Sell” approach, some were able to purchase household items such as televisions and refrigerators, whilst others invested in new ventures like livestock farming (swine production) or milling of grains enterprises. Remarkably, some farmers bought cars, motorcycles, scotch carts, installed water tanks and solar systems, and home construction projects. One farmer said, "The way I do agriculture changed thanks to SHEP. Please continue the good work.".

Farmers endured severe droughts, electricity shortage and pest infestations which they partially managed to address with limited resources. They seemed to be encouraged to continuously engage the market so that they shift from "Grow and Sell" to the SHEP concept "Grow to Sell and to strengthen communication with buyers throughout the cropping cycle also contributed to it.

The next ZIM-SHEP activity is conducting the In-field ToT (Training of Trainers) sessions for Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South provinces for the 4th batch. The exercise seeks to refresh and upskill extension officers in Good Agronomic Practices of the selected target crops through the Market Survey, so they can produce crops that meet the requirements of the markets.