The Smallholder Agriculture Cluster project is set to receive additional funding that will be channeled towards a new project the Resilience Agriculture Cluster Project. The Resilience Agriculture Cluster Project ,which will be housed and implemented by the Smallholder Agriculture Cluster Project will be financed by the African Development Bank for a total of US$9,4 million.
The scope of the new project will include rehabilitation of irrigation schemes, establishment of multi-purpose water points (VBUs), climate-smart farming and rural value-chain expansionand expansion of weather information infrastructure which are meant to transform Zimbabwe’s food systems while protecting vulnerable farming communities from floods, droughts and other climate risks.
Speaking at the RACP stakeholder validation and technical design workshop in Bulawayo on Monday, chief director for business markets and trade in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Mr Clement Taderera Bwenje, said the project will bolster Zimbabwe’s climate adaptation agenda while supporting rural development.
“Irrigation rehabilitation is the surest way to climate-proof our agriculture. RACP will fund value-chain financing, strengthen marketing linkages and expand Village Business Units (VBUS) to 100 additional wards, ensuring resilient production and rural growth,” said Mr Bwenje
