Over the past decade some 400 community members from Mudzi, Rushinga and Mt Darwin were trained and actively engaged in the clearing of landmine infested areas in cooperation with Halo Trust and MAG. As this operation will come to an end next year, the future of these families became uncertain.
The German Embassy brought this circumstance to the attention of German-funded projects and the Organic Farming Academy (OFA) took up the issue. With the support of the private agrobusiness Organic Africa currently expanding its production for export it was decided that the deminers will be offered training by OFA to fully integrate in the production cycle.
Islum Marimazhira, extension executive for Organic Africa, has already started the registration of the new farmers. “We are more than ready to welcome these deminers as new Rosella farmers. They also have the option of engaging in wild collection, which we’ve been facilitating in the area for some time.”
Doreen Ngwenyama, senior training consultant for Organic Farming Academy (OFA), expressed her delight that many women deminers are eager to venture into organic farming and wild collection. “As a woman, I am impressed with the enthusiasm these women have shown in embracing organic farming and wild collection. After years of such risky work this will enable them to earn a decent income in the future”.
Speaking after an organic farming training workshop of 71 deminers held at the MAG Main Camp in Nyamapanda, MAG community liaison officer Phillip Mwatsera hailed the programme for availing such a critical livelihoods-changing programme. “We are very grateful that OFA has provided such an opportunity for us to capacitate our workers as our demining exercise is nearing its end. This initiative is important in that it does not require much capital and is environmentally friendly”.