Will Market linkages programme improve the livelihood of Gwanda communities?
Market Linkages are an innovative initiative, which are under PRP II. The aim is to improve the income generating capacities of 26 garden groups and Conservation Agriculture beneficiaries in Gwanda district. The programme capacitates the farmers in value addition through food processing and preservation and will link them to markets in Filabusi, Bulawayo and Gwanda. A value addition and processing centre is to be constructed at Nkwidzi business centre to assist farmers in processing and selling their produce.
Project officers have held meetings with the relevant local government offices, local leaders and other stakeholders such as AGRITEX, Environmental Health Technicians and communities in Matshetshe, Datata, Mzimuni and Shake wards to define and agree on roles of each stakeholder. Community members from the four wards have selected four seven-member committees that are expected work together to ensure that farmers regularly send their produce to the centre and also play an administrative role. In three wards, the seven member committee consists of three men and four women, while in Matshetshe it is made up of three women and four men.
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