15 Aug 2018

Plans are underway to kick start a pilot project on agro-tourism at Nxaraga in an effort to improve the livelihoods of the communities.

The project is spearheaded by Nxaraga Development Trust in collaboration with the government.

Currently, the trust has been aided by Conservation Trust Fund (CTF), which channeled P990 000 towards the project.

The CTF assists communities with funding to come up with initiatives aimed to preserve natural resources while making a living from them.

The trust chairperson, Mr Benson Kuti confirmed the project and the financial assistance in an interview.

He noted that they had been assisted with P990 000 from CTF to develop and fence their 42.6 hectares of land earmarked for the planned agro-tourism project.

He said they had been advised to do soil tests, business plan and to conduct Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

He said they had planned to construct a cultural village and conference facilities at the plot to generate more income for the development of the village and the communities.

Currently, he said they were financially challenged to conduct the environmental impact assessment, adding that they had extended a request to department of Environmental Affairs to assist and hoped for a positive response.

Mr Kuti expressed a concern that the project had delayed to commence, but appreciated that the department of Wildlife and National Parks had been assigned by the Technical Advisory Committee to facilitate the project.

“We are hopeful that there will be progress as far as the project is concerned because the community has put their hope on it,” he added.

Furthermore, he said the project would revitalise life in the community as it would create more employment opportunities.

Meanwhile, since its formation, the trust has been struggling to implement community projects because of lack of resources.

 It has been allocated a ranch next to Somelo gate and there are no funds to develop it.

The trust intends to venture into integrated farming at the ranch.

Mr Kuti revealed that UNDP had promised to assist with funding to develop the ranch, adding that they had been failing to pay lease and they owe close to P300 000.

The trust is expected to pay a P6 000-lease yearly, but it was unable to generate income.

The chairperson said they had requested the land board to consider reducing the lease fee, more so that the trust had no concessions like other trusts which had been allocated concessions.

Lastly, he appealed for support from the community and the business people to ensure that they achieve their mandate. ENDS