The
three-year
project
will
enhance
food
security
and
resilience
for
smallholder
farmers
by
establishing
water-based
infrastructure,
developing
value
chains,
and
strengthening
agricultural
extension
service
capacity.
“Under
this
project,
small-scale
farmers
will
be
supported
in
growing
sesame
seeds
to
practice
market-oriented
agriculture
and
a
Japanese
trading
company
called
ITOCHU
Corporation
is
expected
to
play
an
important
role
in
completing
the
value-chain
of
the
project,”
said
Japanese
Ambassador
to
Zimbabwe,
H.E.
Mr
Shinichi
Yamanaka.
“The
Japanese
government
will
provide
financial
assistance
of
approximately
US$
72,000
to
‘the
project
for
the
construction
of
storages
for
sesame
farmers
in
Mwenezi
District’
implemented
by
Sustainable
Agriculture
Technology
(SAT).
SAT
is
expected
to
support
sesame
production
and
its
procurement
including
value
addition
for
the
local
and
export
market.”
The
initiative
is
crucial,
as
Zimbabwe
faces
ongoing
climate
challenges
and
food
insecurity
due
to
the
El
Niño-induced
drought.
The
project
combines
food
assistance
with
climate-adaptive
practices,
to
help
smallholder
farmers
to
cultivate
more
sustainable
crops.
Production
of
Sesame,
a
crop
with
high
market
potential,
will
be
one
of
the
central
value
chains,
enhancing
export
opportunities
for
Zimbabwean
smallholder
farmers.
“This
invaluable
contribution
from
the
Government
of
Japan
allows
us
to
make
food
more
available,
easier
to
access,
and
more
reliable
for
Zimbabwean
families,”
said
Barbara
Clemens,
Country
Representative
and
Director
for
WFP
in
Zimbabwe.
“By
supporting
farmers
to
grow
food
in
a
sustainable
way
and
connect
them
to
markets,
we
can
address
immediate
food
needs
and
empower
communities
to
build
a
food
secure
future.”
Japan
is
a
long-standing
partner
of
WFP’s
assistance
in
Zimbabwe.
Since
2019,
Japan
has
contributed
over
US$
28
million
to
WFP-supported
food
assistance
and
resilience-building
for
vulnerable
communities
in
the
country.
Post
published
in:
Featured