LocationsVisitors at the ZRBF exhibition stand get assistance installing the Kurima Mari agriculture extension application on their phone.
For the first time since its inception in 2016, the Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund (ZRBF) exhibited at the just ended Harare Agricultural Show.
All 7 consortia implementing the fund showcased work done and impact realised in the 18 districts of the country where ZRBF projects are present. Visitors to the exhibition stand learned from some of the project's participants, and had the opportunity to interact with their exhibits.
The highlight of the ZRBF exhibition stand were the small-scale farm mechanisation equipment such as a manual oil press machine, a grain sheller and a two-wheel tractor. The programme is employing improved technologies to build rural farmers resilience to extreme changes in the weather patterns.
"It would take my family of six three days to prepare the land for planting. With this small tractor, the land is ready in by lunchtime. We have more time to do other things" explained one of the participants to a visitor. "We now plant more land and expect a bigger harvest than previous years" she added.
Also on display were impressive sample harvests of small grain crop like millet and sorghum, which are more resistant to reduction in rainfall.
In addition to sharing their stories, ZRBF participants also benefited from touring other farmers and agriculture service providers' stands.
The theme of this six day farmer's annual showcase, "Field to Industry: Produce. Connect. Develop", challenged the farmers to go beyond producing for consumption, and to earn income from their produce.
