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Manicaland Correspondent
CHIMANIMANI West community is set to benefit from the establishment of a baobab processing plant which will be commissioned next month.

The project is expected to significantly boost food security and income generation in the drought-stricken district.

Established under the Forest Forces Project (FF), the plant, Baobab Delights, is funded by the European Union (EU).

The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) is the lead partner under the FF project, with Southern Alliance for Indigenous Resources (SAFIRE) being the implementing partner.

In an interview with The Herald, FAO FF project coordinator Mr Maxwell Phiri said the project’s main objective was to improve food security of vulnerable rural communities through participatory sustainable forest management, valorisation of forest products and enhancing communities’ capacity to deal with shocks.

“The baobab project’s main objective is to improve food security and incomes of beneficiary communities in wards 5, 8 and 20 of Chimanimani District through exploitation and processing of baobab fruits”, he said