Archived: CAW22 - Thank You Video
Resource ID
6893
Access
Restricted
Contributed by
Adam Haggerty
Country
Zimbabwe
Region
Africa
Date
03 May 22
Consent form received
Yes
Subject
Fundraising
Caption
A thank you video to supporters featuring Jessica and Janet.
Background information
Dogged by poverty and harsh climatic conditions Jessica finds it difficult to provide adequate food for her family. Her husband has been unwell and hence the responsibility of providing for the family fell on her shoulders. Besides her six children she takes care of her aging father and brother-in-law both of whom are suffering from schizophrenia.
Affected by unpredictable weather patterns, Jessica’s has had a series of poor harvests. She has had nights where her family has gone without food and has relied on good will of extended family. Jessica is supplementing her income by making farm bricks- a difficult tasks. Selling farm bricks do not give much income since it’s an easily available material in the locality, hence low demand.
Jessica recently signed up to the BRACT project. The family has received social cash transfer in lieu of taking works twice per week in rehabilitating their local dam.
The family however, still needs support on:
• Farming inputs such as fertilizers, water pumps,
• Training on climate smart agriculture
• Supply of drought resistant crops/seeds
• Diversifying sources of income
• Training on nutrition
The ZRBF-BRACT programme seeks to improve her ability to withstand current and future shocks, thereby helping her realize wellbeing outcomes. The family is exposed to both climatic and economic shocks and stresses.
Jessica’s Quotes:
“I have faced hunger because of poor harvest. Sometimes I do not have enough to feed my family. I also don’t have income to support my children, for them to go to school.”
“I work in the field cultivating my crops, but I don’t have enough seeds and fertilizer. This eventually affects my harvests, even when we have some rain.”
“I have challenge as there are those who depend on me. I live with my father and brother in-law who are mentally ill, and they all look up to, and sometimes I don’t have money to support them.”
“There are days I got to bed on an empty stomach, and whenever I ask for help from neighbours, those around me, but they say they also don’t have enough. “
“Hunger is bad, this is when you don’t have anything to feed on. You do not have anything to eat. You don’t have grain to cook porridge or roast, It is having no way, and nothing to eat.”
About Jessica Mwedzi’s Family:
Jessica Mwedzi (36) is married to Fanuel Rutsito. Together they have six children ( 2 boys, 4 girls).
Jessica also takes care of her father-in-law and brother-in-law, both of whom are suffering from schizophrenia.
The family is poor and heavily dependent on making a living from smallholder farming.
To earn extra income together with her cousin Maria, Jessica makes and sells bricks. Her husband has been unwell and hence the responsibility of providing for the family fell on her shoulders.
Farm bricks are easily available locally and are therefore a hard sell. A lack of resources to put into her farm (fertilizers, seeds), as well as harsh climatic conditions, have led to a series of poor harvests and often result in hunger for her and her family. She’s has had days where she’s gone without food and depended on the kindness of her neighbours for grains.
Jessica recently joined the BRACT programme and has already got training on climate-smart agriculture, fodder production. Jessica says that she needs farming inputs to increase production on her farm to continue providing food for her family and make income so that she can pay school fees for her children.
On her farm, she is currently growing some vegetables that she says are not enough to feed her family.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Climate in Zimbabwe:
Due to climate change, the rainfall pattern is characterised by shifts in the onset of rains, increase in the frequency and intensity of heavy rainfall events, increases in frequency of low rainfall seasons, , and increases in the frequency and intensity of mid-season dry-spells.
Extreme weather events, namely tropical cyclones and drought have also increased in frequency and intensity. According to the Zimbabwe Meteorological Service, daily minimum temperatures have risen by approximately 2.6°C over the last century while daily maximum temperatures have risen by 2°C during the same period.
Changes in climate have resulted in more arid environments for agricultural production. Due to this Rainfall patterns and crop production have progressively deteriorated. Overall, the climate in Zimbabwe is regionally differentiated, but is generally becoming warmer with more erratic rainfall patterns.
The country is often affected by droughts lasting from one to three years and occurring every five to seven years. The economy and the livelihoods of the poor in Zimbabwe are highly vulnerable to climate change due to their heavy reliance on rain-fed agriculture.
The impacts of climate change in Zimbabwe, particularly the increase in rainfall variability, make it difficult for people who depend on rainfall and water resources – including those involved with agriculture,- to plan their activities. Persistent drought in Zimbabwe has severely strained surface and ground water systems, contributing to the country’s deteriorating water supply.
About BRACT Project:
Christian Aid through BRACT project has contributed to increased absorptive, adaptive and transformative resilience capacities in the two districts of Mutoko and Mudzi . The project is stimulating climate smart crop and livestock production t on profitable production and marketing of drought tolerant field crops, horticulture, post-harvesting processes (including storage), fodder production, farming as a business and marketing skills.
Through the project households are receiving support to increase regular consumption of traditionally produced nutritious foods.
Finally the project is supporting vocational and entrepreneurship activities for young people to diversify their sources of livelihood.
IMPACTS SO FAR:
The project has supported 27,178 people(10,998M/16,180F) to increase their resilience capacities toward harsh climatic condition and unpredictable weather patterns.
Through adaptive action the project has helped households to:
• Improve their food security through increased diversified crop production and marketing of traditional crops and livestock;
• Enhancing regular consumption of traditionally produced nutritious foods;
• Strengthening sustainable farm productivity and competitiveness;
• Equipping youth with knowledge and skills to engage in non-agricultural income-generating activities;
• Sustainable harvesting and processing of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs)for viable markets.
Through these interventions, families are better able to withstand the recurrent climate and economic shocks and stresses.
Marker lat / long: -18.7, 29.9 (WGS84)