By Tamuka
Zimbabweans are taking heed of government’s call to take a proactive approach in the development agenda by leveraging on readily available resources in their communities.
Tonnes of the dehasked baobab fruit are displayed daily for sale at Gudyanga Shopping Centre in rural Chimanimani.
The fruit has become a reliable source of living with the outgrowth being used to make oil, baobab powder, freezits, coffee and stock feed by a local firm.
“We realised that in this area we have the baobab fruit which was under-utilised production-wise. We then bought modern equipment to process the fruit and now we are producing quite a number of line products. Our community sell baobab to us which we then value add and sell locally and to foreigners,” said Zakeo Nhachi, a representative of a baobab growing company.
Locals are also benefiting from the initiative which has provided a ready market.
“We have found a solution to hunger and poverty through the use of our own natural resources,” said a villager.
Meanwhile, government, through the Empower Bank and the Women Microfinance Bank of Zimbabwe is providing funding for the implementation of community projects to drive self-sustenance as part of the devolution agenda.
The post Chimanimani community benefits from baobab fruit business appeared first on ZBC NEWS.