Food And Nutrition Clubs Uplift Chipinge Livelihoods

By Stephen Ephraem

Communities in Ngaone communal lands under Chief Mutema in Chipinge are benefiting from Food and Nutrition (FAN) projects that they have embarked on.

Supported by a development partner named Africa Ahead, the clubs are playing an important role in uplifting the health status of the communities and also acting as income generation projects.

Treasurer, Mrs Enety Gwiza for Rujeko FAN club, of Tsododo village revealed to Post On Sunday that their livelihood has improved since the inception of the FAN clubs.

“Tsododo village has 74 members comprising of 70 females and 4 males who are actively involved in food and nutrition projects. These members graduated from health clubs which seek to maintain a health community,” Gwiza said.

“the development partner supported us with start up seeds while we thank our local leadership for availing land for this nutrition garden”

The club is sharing its dividends after six months of selling, looking forward to buy irrigation equipment and expand the project as streams and natural springs are their only available sources of water.

Village head Jonathan Tsododo confirmed that the FAN clubs have brought changes in his area.

“People are no longer sleeping on empty stomachs since there is availability of food. The vegetable projects are bringing financial benefits to members,” said village head Tsododo.

Apart from the FAN clubs, Africa Ahead constructed two-roomed houses for 75 victims of Tropical Cyclone Idai in Chipinge rural wards 2, 9 and 14. The cyclone severely affected Chipinge and Chimanimani district killing more than 250 people and leaving many thousands homeless.