Market gardening has become a source of income for many villagers in Muzarabani

By Nyasha Chingono

THE drought ravaged district of Muzarabani has received a US$120 000 grant from development partners to start a gardening project to alleviate the effects of the El Nino induced drought.
The drought, which ravaged Zimbabwe over the last season, left farmers in Muzarabani district counting their losses after most of their crops failed to survive the dry spell.
Most households in Muzarabani survive on food aid, a situation caused by climate change that has left the greater part of southern Africa in drought, with most crops becoming complete right offs.
Most families in the area are surviving on one meal per day as the effects of the lean season impact on the livelihoods of millions of Zimbabweans who are in need of food aid.
The lean season covers December to March.
The community received a US$120 000 grant from the Global Environment Facility and the United Nations Development Programme through its implementing partners, Methodist Development and Relief Agency (MeDRA) to start a market gardening project in the area.
Farmer, Moses Mabehla (49) from Kapembere ward, Patsikamambo village, was grounded after growing maize during the past two agricultural seasons.
The crops fail largely due to droughts, forcing him to resort to market gardening.
“Every farmer’s dream is to have a good farming season and failing to grow a tonne of maize is total failure. Rains have not been favourable to us in this region hence this project has helped us survive the effects of the consecutive droughts that the district has experienced over the years,” said Mabehla.
Many villagers involved in the market gardening project are optimistic that the project will help them in ensuring household food security.
The organic market gardening project has become a source of hope for many villagers who are depending on food for work and drought relief programmes.
“Growing crops in the garden has been a dream come true for my household. Now I am able to send my children to school from the profit I realise from selling vegetables. The garden has also helped us in ensuring that there is enough food for everyone throughout the year,” said 39 year old Christine Madziva.
About 476 households from Patsikamambo community have benefitted from the project.
Speaking in an interview during a recent visit to the area, MeDRA project officer, Mike Makheto, said the community project had benefitted many people in the district and had assisted many in improving their livelihoods.
“Besides getting extra income from the garden, the garden also provides nutritional diversity for the households and the community at large because they no longer have to walk long distances to access vegetables,” said Makheto.
He said the project, not only addressed issues to do with food security but was also used in mitigating the effects of land degradation.
“The project basically focuses on mitigating the effects of land degradation, gully reclamation and organic farming. Patsikamambo community has managed to reclaim a total of 43 gullies as a way of redressing the damaged environment,” Makheto said.
Besides the recurring droughts, Muzarabani is also prone to flooding such that last week, the Civil Protection Unit (CPU) issued a flood warning for areas that are at high risk of flooding, advising the community to move to higher ground.
The CPU said “all communities in Muzarabani” were “advised that they keep informed always of weather bulletins and closely monitor water levels particularly at night”.
“They should timely move to higher ground and always supervise children at play and on their way to and from school,” the CPU said.
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