Project News

The ZIM-SHEP team conducted Market Survey activity in Mashonaland West and Masvingo Province from the 8th to the 10th of November and 30th to the 2nd of December 2022 respectively. The participatory exercise saw farmers, extension officers and supervisors visit local open markets, schools, hospitals, hotels, input suppliers and training centres.

The targeted beneficiaries collected information on horticultural produce such as quality, quantity, frequency of purchase, terms, and mode of payments from the potential buyers. Participants also visited input suppliers where they asked the agro dealers on the range of agricultural inputs such as seeds, chemical and fertilizers they sell. Furthermore, they enquired whether the input suppliers offered free delivery, discounts and after sales technical support especially establishing demonstration plots when the farmer group purchase products.

The participatory market survey exercise was organized and financed by the ZIM-SHEP project. The activity was facilitated by the trained frontline extension officers assisting the selected farmer representatives. Whilst the district, provincial and ZIM-SHEP headquarter team provided additional technical support.

Farmers held mock market surveys at their irrigation schemes with support from resident agriculture extension officers prior to the actual activity. The exercise was meant to prepare farmers to conduct an effective actual market survey.

Following the sponsored exercise, farmers are expected to conduct another market survey financed and organised by themselves. Moreover, they will conduct a feedback meeting with the scheme members and then select target crops to grow based on collected market information. Afterwards, farmers will form commodity groups according to the target crop of interest and each group will prepare a crop calendar to be utilised throughout the production and marketing cycle.

An extension officer commented on the activity saying ‘This morning when we came here, the farmers were surrounded by fear. But now, after completing the market survey exercise, that fear is gone!'. These sentiments were echoed by the farmers who participated in the exercise agreed that ‘Market-oriented agriculture starts from here'.

Farmers conducting market survey at a boarding school (1)

Farmers conducting market survey at a boarding school (2)

Farmers conducting market survey at an open market (1)

Farmers conducting market survey at an open market (2)

Farmers conducting market survey at a hospital

Farmers interviewing an input supplier