Ostrich farm success story

• Published date: 02 October 2014
• Publication title: The Zimbabwean

In a brand new venture outside Chipinge, a group of women led by Beatrice Dzoro farms ostriches as a means of earning money and improving their lives.

For 10 years, Dzoro (47) worked for a large commercial farming enterprise in Mashonaland East province, previously owned by Martin Fick. Fick and his family were forcibly removed under President Robert Mugabe's chaotic land "reform" programme in 2000, losing his farm and his business in the process.

Following several violent attacks on himself, his family and several of his employees, including Dzoro, Fick relocated to South Africa in 2002 and started again as a commercial farmer.

Low point

For Dzoro this was a low point as she was left without a job or a home. In 2005 she decided to transform her life by using the knowledge acquired and experience gained while working as a supervisor on the commercial farm.

In 2006, she obtained three female and one male ostriches from Fick and started the project at her homestead in Gombe with capital of $10,000 received from an anonymous donor and a $5,000 loan from the Zimbabwe Micro Finance Corporation (ZIMFC).

"After what my former boss and my family experienced, I felt very strongly that there was need for me to stand up strong and turn the tables," said Dzoro in an interview with The Zimbabwean recently. "There have been many projects before for women, but this one is different. There has never been a project like this with ostriches."

God is faithful

"It has been hard, but God is faithful. The ostrich project helps feed my four children and pays for them go to school. God is a part of this project and has given me an opportunity to empower other women who now live sustainable lives," she said. Dzoro employs six women on a full time basis.

Presently she has 70 fully grown birds and ten baby ostriches. She also has many eggs and has been selling the hides, feathers and meat to customers.

"The key to making the project successful is to instil a sense of ownership in the women in my group. Many women are exploited and downtrodden in the resettlements areas. But for us, the success of this project has restored dignity and selfworth," explained Dzoro.

Some women in the group have attributed their success in the project to sound mentorship and a good business model. "I am happy to be involved in this new project for two good reasons. Firstly ,I have benefited financially and am now able to send my kids to school and serve them decent meals, which was very difficult for me before. I...