A presentation by Charles Chikwiramadara Value Chain & Marketing Specialist ACDIVOCA PRIZE PROGRAM Zimbabwe address:

Making value chains work for vulnerable households PRIZE Background  PRIZE- stands for Promoting Recovery in Zimbabwe.  It is a two year SYAP Title II assistance program.  It is implemented by CRS, ACDI/VOCA and CARE.  One of the objectives of PRIZE is to ensure that 90,000 vulnerable households have re-established food security.  Under value chains targeted number of beneficiaries is 2500 farmers.

Making value chains work for vulnerable households How does PRIZE achieve its objectives  It uses community productive assets created through FFA as entry points for value chain development.  Community assets are created through rehabilitation of old ones and establishment of new ones e.g. Irrigation scheme and Small livestock sales pens.  The assets are set out to provide communities with options of livelihoods activities best suited to their areas.

Making value chains work for vulnerable households PRIZE used the value chain framework shown below to analyze gaps and opportunities within value chains. Value chain system  Functions  Performance factors  Relationships  Rules  Interconnected

Making value chains work for vulnerable households Tomato value chain  An analysis was done the tomato value chain and selection based on: Length of production cycle. Crop was already grown in Mudzi- Nyamatanda irrigation scheme. Opportunities to produce in winter. Potential to increase income to house holds.

Making value chains work for vulnerable households Tomato value chain Beneficiary selection criteria  Members of irrigation scheme in the operating areas.  Non VGF (Vulnerable group feeding) beneficiaries/households  Willingness to invest time and energy into the project

Making value chains work for vulnerable households Selection criteria continued  A 52% to 48% gender balance between women and men.  Tomatoes chain was selected as it had biggest opportunities since the crop was grown all year round.  So we define this target group as vulnerable and viable.

Making value chains work for vulnerable households Process of organising farmers:  Community participatory approach to the creation of asset.  Formation of farmer groups.  Groups sizes ranged from 15 to 30 members.  Each group would chose their leader who would become the lead farmer.  Marketing committees were chosen from the farmers groups.

Making value chains work for vulnerable households Activities  Facilitating the engagement of private sector players.  Training of farmers on best agronomy practises on tomatoes.  Taking farmers for a look and learn tour.  Establishment of demonstration plots.  Training of farmers on FaaB (farming as a business) and marketing  Training farmers on post harvest handling.

Making value chains work for vulnerable households Outputs 0.250ha  Increased yields from baseline figure of 200kg to 1700kg  Income increased from $ to $  Established market linkages  Adoption of cropping calendar based on demand and opportunities working on rotating crops.

Making value chains work for vulnerable households Outputs

Making value chains work for vulnerable households ChallengesMeasures taken to address the challenges Low productivityTraining farmers on best agronomic practices Introducing high yielding varieties e.g. Nemoneta. Weak market linkagesPromoting market driven production Suspicion/mistrustIncreased facilitation

Making value chains work for vulnerable households Expected Impacts  Farmers will be more able to make informed business decision.  Investments in households assets will also improve.  Improved local economies.  Enhanced standard of living and ability to meet household economic requirements.

Making value chains work for vulnerable households Lessons leant  Farmers learn fast through practical demonstrations at local level.  Vulnerable farmers can use value chains to increase income and escape from the poverty web.  The private sector is willing to engage as long as farmers are organised in groups. Discounts, leveraging on transport making inputs available at irrigation schemes and product training by supplier and after sales services. Continued..

Making value chains work for vulnerable households Lessons learnt  Relationship takes long to develop hence facilitation becomes an ongoing process.