The City of Masvingo is currently hosting a two-day capacity building and market linkages training at Urban Lifestyle as part of the City’s ongoing efforts to strengthen local economic development and empower value chain actors within the agricultural sector.

The training brought together a diverse group of participants including horticulture farmers and aggregations, seedling and nursery producers, poultry farmers, as well as grain and meat processors.

Speaking during the programme, City of Masvingo Town Clerk Eng Edward Mukaratirwa highlighted the importance of empowering local producers with practical skills and market knowledge to stimulate economic growth, create employment opportunities, and enhance food security within the community.

This programme provided a platform for participants to enhance their business skills, improve production knowledge, and explore market opportunities aimed at increasing productivity and sustainability within their enterprises.

The initiative was supported by the European Union, the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC) and the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the GIZ GGLA Project under the City of Masvingo’s Local Economic Development (LED) Plan.

Training forms part of broader efforts to promote inclusive economic growth, support livelihoods, and strengthen local value chains within the city and surrounding communities.

During the workshop, participants engaged in discussions on market access, business networking, value addition, product quality standards, and strategies for improving competitiveness in local and regional markets. The training also created an opportunity for producers and processors to interact with potential market partners and stakeholders in the agricultural value chain.