Harare — THE Ministry of Women's Affairs and Community Development has intensified efforts to provide essential skills and knowledge for food processors in the region to alleviate poverty, an official has said.

In an interview, the acting provincial development officer for Matabeleland North, Mr Bekithemba Ngwenya said the Ministry last week held a four-day workshop aimed at improving skills of women in food processing, putting focus on the baking industry.

The training workshop which ran from 11 to 14 November in Bulawayo, was funded by Plan International, a non-governmental organisation and attended by women in the baking industry from Tsholotsho District.

"As facilitators of the workshop, we had realised that most women are lagging behind in the development process because they lack skills and knowledge despite that they have all the required inputs for their businesses.

"So we were mainly targeting on capacity building, regarding how they should run their bakeries since most of them are importing flour from neighbouring countries but have failed to run their businesses professionally to generate more income. Therefore, we seek to help them gain from their baking business," he said.

Mr Ngwenya said it was in their interests to see women progressing in business and not waste material because of ignorance.

"We provided them with theory work so as to complement their practical. We gave them administrative skills and financial skills among others," said Mr Ngwenya.

He said it had come to their attention that women in the baking industry were faced with difficulties as they used more resources in their projects but produced less.

Mr Ngwenya said women priced their products by comparing prices with their competitors not taking into consideration input costs, which led to losses.

He said there was need for women to brand their products in a way that would attract consumers as poor branding resulted in most of their products being ignored.

"As long as we have enough funds, the Ministry will continue to empower women in the field of business in the region so that they become self-reliant at the same time promoting development. They should not wait for Government funds but should use the little resources they have to support the Government efforts," said Mr Ngwenya.