Zim seeks funding for horticultural projects
Business Reporter
ZIMBABWE is seeking more funding for small horticultural projects from the Netherlands-based Common Fund of Commodities, Herald Business was told recently. CFC is an inter-governmental financial institution established within the framework of the United Nations responsible for the development of commodities-based economies.
Already, the institution has provided US$2,2 million to finance TZI Limited’s horticultural projects in Cashel Valley, Macheke, Uzumba-Maramba and Dotito.
Beneficiaries under the TZI project are involved in growing fresh vegetables for the export market, particularly to the leading United Kingdom retailers.
Officials from the Horticultural Promotion Council are understood to be in the Netherlands, were they are discussing with CFC "to provide funding for horticultural projects at a much bigger scale.
We have seen how the TZI initiative is working and it’s quite positive for our smallholder farmers and the industry at large," said HPC official.
"It will be for the interest of the country to take this initiative at a larger scale and HPC is already in negotiations with the CFC," the official added.
Inadequate funding has adversely affected horticultural production, now dominated by small-scale farmers, a development that culminated in a steep fall in the production of fresh produce.
The sectors used to be among the country’s major foreign currency generators and employers.
CFC’s specific mandate is to support developing countries that are dependent on commodities to improve and diversify commodities production and trade.
Its funded projects typically have a market development and poverty alleviation orientation.
Currently, the fund has a membership of 106 countries.
Institutional members include the European Community, the African Union, East African Community and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa.
The secretariat is based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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