Zimbabwe

Increasing agricultural incomes: IRD implemented the USAID-funded Restoring Livelihoods–Strengthening Value Chains (REVALUE) program in Manicaland province from 2009 to 2011. IRD performed value chain analyses for groundnuts, beans, sesame, and paprika, identifying and addressing critical bottlenecks. IRD partnered with 7,871 farmers: the incomes of those who rely on rain-fed agriculture increased by 30 percent, and yields for groundnuts and beans increased by 195 percent and 54 percent respectively in the first year. IRD helped establish linkages between smallholder farmers and larger commercial agricultural companies through produce consolidation points at rural agro-dealers, and then IRD helped the agro-dealers access credit to purchase the produce. IRD spearheaded consultative meetings with the government of Zimbabwe that led to the lifting of the groundnuts export ban, enabling higher prices for smallholder farmers’ crops.

Improving water, sanitation & hygiene: With support from USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), IRD is helping to ensure year-round access to safe water through the installation of rooftop rainwater harvesting systems. To date, IRD has established over 850 systems for households and schools serving more than 26,000 people. The Zimbabwe Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting (ZimROOF) program is installing systems at 20 rural schools in four districts of Manicaland province. IRD couples access to safe water at schools with hygiene training using a manual it developed locally. IRD offers the training to surrounding communities in water, sanitation, and health and demonstrates the technology to other NGOs and local institutions.

Financing smallholder agriculture: IRD designed and implements AgriTrade, a commercial credit facility that targets smallholder agriculture. In the past, access to credit in the agricultural sector has mainly supported agribusinesses working with large-scale farmers or government schemes targeting particular farmer groups. AgriTrade is changing this by providing credit to farmers, agro-dealers in rural areas, small and medium agro-merchants, and contract farming companies. Through AgriTrade, IRD increases demand and competition for smallholder farmers’ produce. The farmers gain access to inputs closer to their fields and guaranteed markets through contract farming arrangements. USAID’s investment of US$5 million will generate an estimated US$40 million in loans. The funds are matched by local partner banks, and loans that are repaid are relent to agribusinesses working with smallholder farmers. IRD builds the capacity of potential borrowers to prepare bankable proposals and the capacity of the banks to lend to smallholders. AgriTrade is part of the Fintrac-managed Zimbabwe Agricultural Incomes and Employment Development (Zim-AIED) program.

Programs

Improving Agricultural Income and Employment in Zimbabwe

AgriTrade is a USAID-supported commercial lending facility that links farmers and a... more

Restoring Livelihoods and Strengthening Value Chains in Zimbabwe

The REVALUE program worked with smallholder groundnut and bean farmers in Zimbabwe... more

Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting in Zimbabwe

Access to safe water remains a challenge to most people in Zimbabwe and this expose... more

Success Stories

AgriTrade Credit Facility Helps Small Businesses Expand

BULAWAYO Zimbabwe – Sizamile Gumbo is one of 305 beneficiaries of the AgriTrade cre... more

AgriTrade Helps Small-scale Agribusiness Boom

CHEGUTU, Zimbabwe – AgriTrade, a component of the USAID-funded Zim-AIED project, ai... more

AgriTrade Increases Growth Prospects for Milling Company

Jerald Tigere started his maize milling business in 2008, when an econom... more

AgriTrade Loan Boosts Fruit and Vegetable Sales

Just one week after receiving its AgriTrade loan in August 2011, Baledale I... more

AgriTrade Loan Helps Woman-owned Business Thrive

HARARE, Zimbabwe – A year ago, business at Cassandra Magwere’s butchery teetered on... more

AgriTrade loan increases trader and farmers’ incomes

ST. MARY’S, CHITUNGWIZA, Zimbabwe - When the going got tough for her family at t... more

AgriTrade Moves Fresh Vegetables to Urban Areas

LOWER GWERU, Zimbabwe – Samuel Msipa, 59, is a popular figure at fruit and vegetabl... more

AgriTrade Provides Economic Lifeline to Youthful Piggery Entrepreneur

Twenty-five year old Walter Matsikira, from Chiendambuya communal lands in... more

Creating Gainful Employment through AgriTrade

MBARE, Zimbabwe – It used to be that 36-year-old Learnmore Tonderayi Gosho) of Mbar... more

Credit Facility Stimulates Economic Growth

Tichaona Ganha, 40, from Harare’s sprawling Highfield high density suburb,... more

Goodbye Cholera, Hello Clean Water

CHITUNGWIZA, Zimbabwe – Imagine having 1,600 students in a school and not having wa... more

IRD Commemorates Global Handwashing Day at Rural Schools

“Global Handwashing Day focuses on school children because they are…so ofte... more

Microfinance Brings Savings to Customers and Higher Prices to Farmers in Zimbabwe

HARARE, Zimbabwe – Improved cash flow at Ray’s Butchery is resulting in higher p... more

Niche Market Business Thrives with AgriTrade Loan

CHIPINGE, Zimbabwe – In this rural area where most restaurants specialize in the st... more

Smallholder Farmers Gain Access to Credit

MUTOKO, Zimbabwe – Mrs. Nyagande Hazvinei, Mr. Arnold Matambanadzo, and 14 other me... more