Farmers from Bulilima, Mberengwa, Buhera and Gutu are set to have improved access to local markets for their products, following the inception of Simbiso project, a program focusing on climate resilience through market systems. Hope for a Child in Christ (HOCIC), hosted the inception meeting at a local hotel in Bulawayo on Friday, which was attended by farmers, private-sector actors, government representatives and various development partners. HOCIC will implement the project in Bulilima, CTDO in Buhera while LID Agency will be in Gutu and Mberengwa.
The project, which will run under the theme “Empowering farmers for a climate resilient future through market systems,” comes at a time when rural families are struggling to cope with worsening climate shocks. It will seek to enhance the ability of market players to offer effective adaptation solutions, boost local value addition and ensuring sustainable market access and to improve availability and reliability of weather and hydrological products and services. Farmers who attended the meeting highlighted that the project is a great opportunity for them to sell their products, as they are already farming but struggling to access markets for their produce.
“I am a farmer from Ward 2 in Bulilima. This project may come in quite handy in helping us to identify potential markets, because as it is we are already farming, the products are there but we do not have access to the markets,” a farmer explained. Another farmer said they end up running losses for some of their products as they struggle to access adequate markets.
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“I have had encounters where I embark on projects but end up losing the stick because of lack of markets,” he narrated. “I have done chicken products and after selling to local schools and a few other stakeholders, I remain with a certain amount, which I struggle to sell. I end up incurring losses.” Another participant emphasised on the importance of value addition skills to help Bulilima locals to generate more income from mopane worms.
“There are natural resources that the people can benefit from. Mopane worms are abundant in Bulilima, if the locals are taught value addition skills, packaging and branding, they can make huge amounts of money from the product,” he said.
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