“My leadership skills made people realise my potential”

Marble Makora, 68, from Makoni, Zimbabwe has always been passionate about agriculture but couldn’t afford the resources to grow produce to sell or even sometimes feed her family. With training and support from Women’s Action Group, Marble has developed leadership skills and is growing her farming business.

“I always had a passion for farming, but resources limited me from fulfilling my dreams. I could not afford to buy adequate agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, seeds, herbicides and pesticides. Though I had a passion for farming, I could only manage to produce food for my family and sometimes it was not enough due to inadequate inputs. I realised that sitting back will not unleash the talent in me and the poverty in my family.

I decided to join the Rural Women Assembly (RWA) which is facilitated by Women and Land in Zimbabwe in my community. Being part of the Rural Women Assembly has made me a better woman and a leader in my community. It gave me the opportunity to learn and network with other women in the farming business. When WAG came through the RWA to select beneficiaries of agricultural inputs, I was inspired by their session on empowerment.

I started educating other women in my community on women empowerment. I was happy when I was selected as one of the beneficiaries for the agricultural inputs. I believe that my talent in farming and my leadership skills made people realise my potential. I feel that this programme has really empowered me as a woman and other women in my community. I have noticed that the women that I have engaged have taken farming seriously this season. I am hoping to see more women being independent in my community.

I believe that this year will be a turning point in my life as I expect to take farming to another level. If all goes well, I am expecting a bumper harvest this year and I will sell my produce to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) because I have been provided with everything that is required for farming. I would like to thank WAG for empowering us and I am hopeful that I will be one of the best women farmers in my community who will be taking farming as a business.”