ZimTrade has hailed early success in a pilot pea production project in Mutoko, saying strong partnerships and community participation are helping smallholder farmers build sustainable livelihoods through export-oriented agriculture.
The initiative, being implemented under the Women’s Economic Empowerment through Sustainable Rural Production (WESRP) programme, brings together ZimTrade, the Netherlands Embassy in Zimbabwe, CAID Zimbabwe, Kuminda Fresh and the Nyahunure Community Organization to develop export-ready pea production clusters in the district.
During a visit to the Mutoko Horticulture Cluster and the WESRP Peas Pilot project yesterday, ZimTrade said the programme was already showing promising results just three weeks after planting.
“ZimTrade, along with the Netherlands Embassy in Zimbabwe, CAID Zimbabwe and Kuminda Fresh, is spearheading export-ready pea production, supplying inputs, developing clusters and allowing smallholder farmers to create sustainable livelihoods through exports,” the agency said.
According to ZimTrade, field assessments revealed healthy crop development across all participating groups, reflecting the effectiveness of the support being provided to farmers.
“Just three weeks after planting, all groups exhibited a healthy, uniform crop stand, excellent field management practices and well-maintained production sites.
The positive performance of the pilot project demonstrated how coordinated partnerships could generate tangible results in rural communities while creating pathways for farmers to access lucrative export markets,” ZimTrade added.
Beyond crop performance, ZimTrade highlighted the strong spirit of cooperation among farmers involved in the project, describing it as a key factor behind the initiative’s early success.
“More importantly, the farmers proudly shared how they are working collectively to make the pilot a success,” said ZimTrade.
The agency also commended the prominent role being played by women in agricultural production, noting that the project was advancing both economic empowerment and gender inclusion.
“With women taking a leading role in production while being actively supported by men, the project is demonstrating the power of inclusive and community-driven agricultural development,” ZimTrade said.
The pea production pilot forms part of broader efforts to increase agricultural exports, promote value chain development and ensure that rural communities benefit from opportunities created by global demand for high-quality horticultural produce.
