In October 2009, International Relief and Development (IRD) in partnership with Africa University, Cornell University, I-Train and Evaluate Centre and ten Zimbabwean private sector partners started implementing the USAID-funded Restoring Livelihoods –Strengthening Value Chains (REVALUE) program in Manicaland Province.

Aimed at increasing the income of 8,550 farmers by at least 30 percent within 18 months, REVALUE brings together small-holder farmers and larger commercial agricultural companies to enable increased production and commercialization opportunities.

IRD’s program focuses on enhancing groundnuts, beans, sesame and paprika value chains, addressing barriers that inhibit farmers’ incomes including poor access to agricultural inputs, under-resourced agriculture extension services, and weak linkages between producers, processors and commercialization industries. 

IRD increased crops’ yields through the provision of technical support to farmers by local extension officers trained by Cornell University and Africa University. IRD has also facilitated the re-establishment of agro-dealer activity through the implementation of a voucher scheme for the provision of inputs to farmers on credit, and through improved linkages between agro-dealers and agricultural input companies, banks and produce commercialization companies.

 The following results were achieved during the first 12 months of the REVALUE program:

• - Groundnuts yields for  partnering  farmers increased by 230 % due to an intense schedule of trainings and improved inputs;
• - A total of 80 % of farmers for groundnuts and 95% of famers for sugar beans paid back 85 – 93 % of the cost of the inputs that they received from IRD on credit;
• - A total of $151,201 worth of groundnuts and $188,410 of sugar beans sales directly from small holder farmers were recorded; and
• - A total of $1,023,740 of new investment in agriculture and agribusiness has been achieved.

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