The Sunday News
Judith Phiri, Business Reporter
WOMEN and girl child empowering group, Upfumi Kumadzimai-Inotho Kubomama has hailed its export oriented visits to Asia since last year as a stepping stone towards enhancing income generating projects.
Upfumi Kumadzimai-Inotho Kubomama programmes co-ordinator Mrs Nonceba Mwedzi-Agwaniru said the organisation has managed to exploit a number of export opportunities existing on the Asian market.
The Bulawayo-based non-governmental organisation made its maiden Asian market exploration tour last year when it sent a group of women to Dubai and there after it has been sending its members to the United Arab Emirates nation and China.
“We have realised that Dubai and China are lucrative markets as we have managed to sell a wide range of artefacts, which were produced by women as well as peanut butter, which is also highly in demand in those destinations.
“There is also a huge demand for indigenous chickens on the Asian market but they need them in very large quantities and as such we are now mobilising and encouraging our members to start breeding the birds in huge numbers so that we tap into that market,” said Mrs Mwedzi-Agwaniru.
Last year the organisation managed to realise about $3 000 from the export market.
“Last year we managed to raise about $3 000 from selling various goods in Asia. We, however, used all of it to fund our catering division through stocking our bottle store as well as purchasing mobile caravan kitchen, which we used for cooking and selling food. This affected our coffers and as a result delayed our tours to Asia due to lack of funds.
“We ended up stopping the two ventures as they were not profitable and we bought an egg incubator which we set-up in Figtree and we are hoping to use this facility to enhance our poultry project as well as realising income through hatching eggs for individuals. This year we have done 10 trips since April and managed to raise about $10 000,” said Mrs Mwedzi-Agwaniru.
The organisation used the proceeds realised from the export market this year to purchase two cars, which it intends to use as shuttle vehicles for the transportation of tourists to attractions in Bulawayo and its surrounding areas.
“We used the funds we realised from exports including monthly contributions from members to buy two light vehicles for use in our tourism business. We are in the process of registering the cars to operate as shuttle vehicles for ferrying tourists to different attractions around the city and surrounding areas,” said Mrs Mwedzi-Agwaniru.
The organisation is sending another delegation of women to Dubai this week and another one to China on 2 August.
