Project News

ZIM-SHEP team conducted follow-up visits^[1] in Midlands Province, which is one of the 1st batch target provinces^[2] from the 3rd to the 6th of November 2020. The main purposes of the visits were to check on progress of the project implementation and to measure the impact of the project on farmers in the target irrigation schemes.

They was positive feedback from farmers saying, "we understood the advantages of working together as a group, such as securing large quantities of inputs at discounted prices and improving bargaining power by selling as a group.

In addition, provincial officers said, "We would integrate the SHEP approach in our regular farmer training programs currently conducted by the departments of AGRITEX and Irrigation."

Furthermore, district officers said, "The spread of COVID-19 has restricted the movement of people and produce causing loses to farmers due to the perishable nature of agriculture produce. However, the SHEP target farmers were able to sell their produce to secured markets established through linkages built when they conducted market survey.

Moreover, the information collected during the field visits will be used to enhance the contents of the forthcoming SHEP Training of Trainers, scheduled for 2nd Batch beneficiary provinces of Mashonaland East and Manicaland.