GEXSI Limited Liability
Partnership (LLP) provides non-charitable services based
on a shared philosophy with the GEXSI Charity. For more
information on the professional services provided by GEXSI
LLP refer to www.gexsi.com
KAITE supports landless and small-scale farmers
in Zimbabwe, where there is currently the lowest life expectancy and
the highest inflation in the world. Organic farming and production
of essential oils and staple foods are the pillars of KAITE.
Until the 1980s, Zimbabwe was known as the 'Switzerland of Africa';
today it has the lowest life expectancy in the world and a rising
inflation rate of over 10.000 %: the rapid deterioration of the economy
is obvious. This instability has severe repercussions for the people
of Zimbabwe, who are struggling for their social and economic survival.
Through long-term partnerships, KAITE supports the organic production
of essential oils made from fragrant plants, as well as the cultivation
of medicinal plants, herbs, and staple foods. Farmers affiliated with
KAITE grow these plants which are then processed by KAITE . The organisation
assists its farmers through training in organic agriculture and arranging
for global fair trading schemes for their products. This is the basis
for the future independence of small farmers from development aid.
KAITE launched this initiative in Zimbabwe in March
2007. In the initial phase, organic cultivation methods, in accordance
with EU certification standards, were employed on five hectares of
land. Seventy farming families are now being trained in sustainable
agriculture and the cultivation of marketable cash crops on this land.
This will enable them to become not only efficient subsistence farmers,
but also to generate a regular income from their land.
KAITE has teamed up with Silveira House, the Leadership Training and
Development Education Centre of the Jesuits in Zimbabwe (www.silveira.co.zw/).
They have a showcase garden where fragrant, medicinal plants and herbs,
as well as staple foods are cultivated. As a training centre, Silveira
House plays an important role in informing many people from different
backgrounds about KAITE 's activities.
KAITE is a Zimbabwean-German agricultural initiative. In Shona, the
language of the majority of Zimbabweans, the expression KAITE means
'a task to be conscientiously fuflfilled'. And in old German, 'farm
of the smallholder'.
