CHAPTER 5: EMPIRICAL VERDICTS OF GARDENING PROJECTS AND THE SETTING OF
5.3 Economic setting
Economic setting of research communities focused on what people normally do to generate income and sustain livelihoods of people. It also includes economic activities within and outside the wards, the standard of living of households, income and expenditure of people, the poverty level and employment rate of the community. Macionis and Plummer (2008) define economic setting or organization of the society as the aspects of life that are material and pertains production, distribution and use of income, wealth and commodities within a society.
These materials can be referred to as the resources that are individually or collectively owned within a particular individual, society or nation that supports livelihoods of people. With reference to the research area of study, production of income, wealth and commodities is based upon diverse economic activities.
a. Agriculture
In Rushinga communities, economic activities comprise of agriculture (growing of crops and livestock production in both subsistence and commercial farming methods) which is the major activity in the whole district. Agriculture constitutes 41.7% of income sources in Zimbabwe (ZIMVAC, 2014). Nyamusimba (2014) argues that smallholder farming and irrigation is the spine of agriculture and food security in Rushinga district, especially in ward 15. They grow crops such as maize, cotton, millet, tobacco, sorghum, beans, potatoes and many more edible crops basing on seasonal rainfall and irrigation. Irrigation schemes use different water sources within communities. People from wards A and B do gardening and irrigation using water from dams and rivers within the vicinity of communities. Irrigation and gardening are done throughout the year and they were sustaining livelihoods of people as they get fresh crops, fruits and vegetables and this help them to survive in seasons of hunger and drought. Women are the most agriculturists in this district as compared to men. Similarly, Mehra (1993) found that women in most rural African communities practice agriculture and they sustainably manage the environment.
Crop production in the area is done by both men and women nevertheless main labour is supplied by women. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (2014), states that in most African communities women are responsible for subsistence farming or crop production for
61 consumption whilst men are responsible for commercial farming while women supply labour.
It adds that men control the selling of crops and animals whilst women do the hard work. In Rushinga, both men and women are farmers but women work extra hard than men, women practice both subsistence and commercial farming. The crops are grown to sustain families and communities. They sale the products to generate income for family and for barter trade with traders from cities and towns who bring groceries, clothes, blankets and utensils. Women in Rushinga work hard in farming and irrigation. They requested the government and some NGOs to support them in agriculture and other projects to generate more income and improve their livelihoods. Caritas is an international Non-Governmental Organisation that supports agriculture and it works in partnership with the government to fund nutritious gardens in wards A and B. These organisations provide farming inputs, cash loans and initiate new projects in communities.
Animal production is also practiced in these wards and they keep livestock for consumption and for sale. They keep animals such as cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, cats, dogs and fowls. These animals are kept for consumption within families for example on gatherings they slaughter a goat or a cow, in these ways, it sustains people’s livelihoods. They also sell these animals to generate income for their families. Having many animals at one’s compound is portrayed as a symbol of wealth in the community, the richness of a person is determined by the number of cattle, pigs, goats and chicken, the standard of housing and size of land he or she has. Due to the patriarchal structure of a society, men have power over these animals despite working with their families to have them and only women in single headed families own animals. Johnson (2010) finds that women in patriarchal societies have limited access to land, wealth and credit.
In my study, some women asserted that they only own fowls and cats which do not have much value at their compounds. The introduction of women community projects that deals with animal production such as piggery and chicken rearing in ward A and B empowered women to generate their own income.
b. Other economic activities
People in Rushinga wards also take part in gold panning activities to generate income. Mining is done along nearby rivers and minerals are sold to local gold buyers. The government has supported these mining activities by linking women to external buyers. Community credit unions e.g. Internal Savings and Lending Schemes (mukando-native name) is another economic activity most women were engaging in to access additional money and save it to support other
62 economic activities. Todes et al. (2010) noted that lending schemes supported and sustained community initiatives in Msinga district of South Africa. Women in Rushinga have their own credit unions to sustain projects they run. The Ministry of Women Affairs Gender and Community Development helps these credits unions to access additional funds to support businesses and projects they do such as dressmaking (knitting and sewing), hairdressing and vending.
In addition, barter trade is practised in these wards and it does not involve cash but only trading with goods and services. People in wards A and B practise this type of trade in which they exchange their farm produce, animals and labour with other people within and outside their communities for survival. Some people who do not have pieces of land, farming inputs and cattle for farming supply labour to other people for money, food and other basic needs. People come from towns and cities with groceries, clothes, kitchen utensils and farming inputs to trade with maize, beans, domestic animals and other farming products. Women are typically individuals involved in these activities.
c. Employment sector
Most of people in Zimbabwe, especially the majority of men in urban areas, are engaging in formal employment to make a living. This sector constitutes 30.4% of household income sources in Zimbabwe according to ZIMVAC (2014). In Rushinga rural areas, people are employed within and outside the district in both government and private sector. Also due to high level of education in most Zimbabwean communities, people are employed as teachers, nurses, police officers and in other public services despite gender. This district has a diverse of private companies such as cotton companies, trading shops and construction companies. There is a wide range of Non-Governmental Organisations that employ local people; World Vision International, Sustainable Agriculture Trust (SAT), Zimbabwe AIDS Prevention Support Organisation (ZAPSO), and Farmers’ Association with Chiefs and Headmen self-Help Investment Groups (FACHIG) and many more. Employment is based on meritocracy, in which people with qualification can be employed by the government and private sector. Even though communities are patriarchal, some women were employed according to merit.
Economic activities in these communities increased income of some households, especially those involved in any activity and those who have diverse economic activities (Nyamusimba 2015). Some households received an average income of $800 (American) or R8 000 per month
63 and those who only depend on other, than formal employment, economic activities receive an income on average of $300 (American) or R3000 (South African) per month. The difference in income generation is based upon the number of employed people in a family and a range of economic activities that a household practices and access to resources.