By Nyasha Dube
Women in rural Mazvihwa, Zvishavane with support from Muonde Trust, are harnessing indigenous knowledge to promote food security in the area, which lies in the low region known for extremely high temperatures and low rainfall.
This comes after the trust commemorated World Food Day earlier this week.
Zimbabwe also joined the world in commemorating International Day for Rural Women recently, a day meant to acknowledge the contribution of rural women to national and international development.
Speaking at the sidelines of the World Food Commemorations, one of the women from Mazvihwa, Tadzai Bvute said women in rural areas are now empowered to be self-sufficient and produce enough food for their families as well as surplus for sale.
“We were chosen as 13 local women under the Global Alliance for Green and Gender Action project and got training on tree planting and water harvesting using contour ridges. I urge all women to acquire such knowledge and start these practices at their homes. I have managed to construct a small dam at my own home and I harvest water for farming and gardening.
I even have an orchard where I produce for consumption and sell the surplus. As women, we are now empowered to produce enough food for our families as the women carry the caregiving responsibility. I am now happy because previously I had no knowledge about the role I can play in enhancing food security,” Bvute said.
She added that such initiatives have also reduced domestic violence in many households as families have a lot to do and spend most of their time applying the knowledge they have acquired.
Chief Mazvihwa who presides over the area, said such women empowerment projects are welcome as they align with indigenous knowledge and cultural practices of the community.
“We welcome and recognize this project by Muonde Trust because of the impact they have made in the community through initiatives such as water harvesting which have improved food security. As a community we expect NGOs to enhance development as they carry out their work.
We also value our beliefs and culture so we always look forward to working with organizations that respect and recognize our culture, just like Muonde Trust does through promoting indigenous systems of farming and climate adaptation,” he said.
Muonde Trust Director Abraham Ndlovu also hailed Mazvihwa women for the hard work and commitment they have shown towards alleviating hunger and promoting food security.
“We work closely with women in the community not only as employees but beneficiaries of our programming. We have empowered many women through projects such as fushai and they are now self-sufficient. Women are contributing a lot to national food security because they can now produce from their own farms, and have enough for their families as well as surplus for sale.
We have also met the nutritional needs of the community because we farm a variety of crops which make up a balanced diet. When you teach one woman equates to teaching ten men because women play an important role in caring for their families and the community as a whole,” Ndlovu said.
He added that the project is also meant to stop brain drain and provide employment opportunities for young people in Mazvihwa.
