The Fund has been involved in setting up and maintaining farming projects within the Nketa and Emganwini communities since 2005. It was implemented as a means of meeting a number of objectives.
Operation Murambatsvina (which translates to ‘operation drive out trash’) was initiated in May 2005 with the aim of redistributing people from urban to rural areas. Large numbers of homes and businesses were demolished and their tenants forcibly removed, leaving thousands homeless, unemployed and starving. The Nketa region was hit particularly hard and the plight of its people made particularly desperate. Thus, the foremost objective in setting up the farm was to empower these individuals with the means of feeding and supporting their families. They have received expert training and skill development in ‘Farming God’s Way’ techniques, as well as the financial and nutritious benefits of the farm produce. Furthermore, many have involved their children and families in the project, thereby allowing the input of these skills into future generations.
Beyond the benefits experienced by those directly involved, the Fund has been instrumental in providing the surrounding community with access to essential vegetables at competitive prices. As indicated by C-SAFE Monitoring (an NGO monitoring the nation’s food security), Zimbabwe’s food production is at an alarming low:
- Maize grain and maize meal are reported as unavailable from all sources (GMB, Farmer-to-Farmer, Retail, Informal)
- Large proportions of the crops failed (over 70 percent of all crops in all areas)
- Access to water and good pasture is deteriorating in all areas
- Virtually all households are employing at least one coping strategy (eating fewer meals, loans, begging, selling assets, etc).
The production and sale of any produce within Zimbabwe, without the burden of exorbitant transport costs, has therefore been of great benefit to the Nketa community.
Furthermore, the property itself is owned by ‘the Loving Hand Orphanage’, which receives vegetables and 10% of the farm’s profit. The orphanage was set up in 1998 as a service to survivors of AIDS victims and has grown to the incredible size of 360 children. With food such a scarcity, feeding this number is clearly a tremendous task and the farm has proved an asset to its orphans and staff. In A second farm was set up on which orphanage staff and families are now working in order to subsidise their salaries and enable them to continue their good work.
The project has therefore been a huge success. Its crops are numerous, including maize, butternut, beans, rape, spinach, beetroot, carrots and okra. Some fruit trees, such as tree tomatoes and paw-paw, have even been planted on the site for future outputs. The farm functions in a collective manner with decisions made following input from all members regarding crop rotations, sale of vegetables, problems with theft etc.
The opinions of all members are overwhelmingly positive and Senator Coltart is encouraged in his hope to extend the system to other regions.
Name: Winny
Comments: I was previously unemployed. I am a widow with 4 children and, now that I have the farm, I can feed them! God has blessed us.
Name: Martin
Comments: I’ve had HIV for 12 years and lost my job as a result of my sickness. My wife left me with 10 children/grandchildren to care for. I can’t keep up with the other workers but they don’t mind, I do what I can.