The Good Agricultural Practices training received by Beatrice Simango of Busumani Village under Banga Irrigation Scheme in Chivi District of Masvingo has seen her get an income to fund the construction of an improved kitchen. Lillian Simango, a 49 year old widow said she received several trainings that were funded by the Smallholder Irrigation Revitalisation Programme in 2021. She said, “These training became very useful here in my 0.3 hectare plot in the scheme as well as in the field in the greater scheme area. After adhering to the teachings, particularly of weed management, variety selection and the conservation agricultural methods, my yields began to improve. I managed to sell my groundnut and maize produce from last year and built myself a new kitchen made of bricks and asbestos. I harvested 360 kg of maize and made US$600 from my crop sales.
She continued, “After realizing that the amount of work that needed to be done in both the fields and at home was too much, I decided to employ a helper. So now when I go to work in the irrigation scheme, I know that when are I get home, some of my chores will be done. This allows me to get some rest much deserved after the hard work in the irrigation scheme. I am grateful for the intervention by SIRP as it has allowed me to be empowered as a woman. Here in the scheme, I am a member of the Agronomy sub-committee of the Irrigation Management Committee (IMC). I am also economically independent; I make my own money here in the scheme and do not need to ask for money from anyone.