Smallholder farmers in Mbire dstrict, Mashonaland Central are beginning to reap the benefits of improved market linkages with support from the Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund (ZRBF).
In an interview with one of the farmers benefiting from the initiative, Takesure Hove, said the support had brought confidence and stability to sesame production, transforming the crop from a risky venture into a viable source of income.
“For years, growing sesame in Mbire was characterised by uncertainty. Farmers invested in every season without knowing whether buyers would come or whether the prices offered would justify their hard work,” said Hove.
Another beneficiary Tonderayi Gumbo said the introduction of reliable market arrangements had given farmers greater confidence to expand production, knowing that their harvests would have access to structured buyers.
“With support from the ZRBF project, farmers have been connected to reliable buyers, including SesAfrika. Today, sesame farming is becoming a pathway to more secure incomes and greater resilience,” Gumbo said.
The development is expected to contribute to efforts aimed at improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in marginalised communities, where limited access to markets has traditionally remained one of the biggest barriers to agricultural growth.
As sesame production continues to grow in Mbire, farmers are increasingly viewing the crop not only as an agricultural activity but as an opportunity to build stronger household incomes, improve livelihoods and withstand economic and climatic shocks.
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