ZCDC ups the ante in food security

ZCDC staff and Chief Marange.  A monitoring visit was conducted at Chiefs  Marange and Zimunya’s homesteads and Chiadzwa families who received agricultural inputs from ZCDC. 

THE Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company  (Pvt) Ltd. (ZCDC) has upped the ante to improve food security in the Marange and Arda-Transau communities by providing agricultural equipment and inputs.

Recently, ZCDC provided a tractor to the Bocha Diamond Community Trust to till three hectares of arable land earmarked for an irrigation project meant to empower the Trust and Chiadzwa Ward 29 community.

ZCDC’s support followed the construction of a huge community dam by the Bocha Diamond Community Trust near Mount Makate.

The dam is helping providing water for their livestock and enhance sustainable irrigation schemes.

The land, which lies on a flat geographical space and has a history of being cultivated, is expected to be put under tillage to produce commercial beans.

The executive director of the Bocha Diamond Trust, Mr Moses Mukwada, said: “We will use irrigation pipes to water the project. You have taken an important part in helping to create sustainable employment for the community in Ward 29.”

The diamond company has also supported the traditional leaders’ community-based food security scheme popularly known as Zunde Rambo through the provision of inputs such as seed maize and fertiliser to cover at least a hectare.

This concept was established to produce food for the vulnerable in the community and create employment as well as increase food production.

So far, the support has benefited Chiefs Marange, Zimunya, Chikukwa and Ngorima, headmen Chiadzwa, Chipindirwe and Mukwada.

Chief Marange said: “I received agriculture inputs from ZCDC that include seed maize and fertiliser and I am so grateful. If anybody has any doubt, they can come and see what ZCDC has done for me.”

An elated Acting Chief Zimunya, said: “The whole province is admiring and emulating me. ZCDC support was excellent and I am at a loss for words. This is so amazing.”

Horticultural groups have also been set up in in Chiadzwa, Mukwada and Chipindirwe areas.

At Arda-Transau where villagers who had been living in the Chiadzwa mining concessions were relocated, ZCDC has assisted with the purchase of start-up sorghum seed for the Delta Corporation Market during the 2019/20 agriculture season.

ZCDC spokesperson, Mr Sugar Chagonda, said: “The farmers successfully supplied their produce to the company and realised income from the project. These farmers are now registered under Delta Corporation’s database and will receive production inputs for future agriculture seasons.”

He added: “Forty-two more farmers from Arda-Transau have also registered to participate in the programme. Experience from the first batch of farmers has proved that the enterprise is a low cost, but high value and profitable enterprise.” – ZCDC PR&CD Department