24 here was to assist the various survivor groups in the setting up and running of collective market gardens. The Amani Trust provided the training, and then assisted each group in the process of negotiating with local authorities for the allocation of land for the market gardens. The Amani Trust then provided the inputs for the project, and also provided ongoing supervision. This first phase was highly successful, and resulted in the groups not only being able to bolster their own food security, but also to provide vegetables to the surrounding community. This produced small income for all the groups, and enabled them to earn sufficient income to maintain the project in the subsequent year. However, it was clear that the market garden project, whilst meeting some of the food security needs, required extension if food security was to be guaranteed. The Amani Trust then implemented a second component of the programme, the support for a collective maize growing project. Following the identification of suitable land, and the negotiation for its use from the local authorities, the members of the groups were instructed in the use of a revolutionary approach to the growing of maize and the targeted use of fertilizers. This had been developed by the Department of Agriculture of the University of Zimbabwe. Once again, this was highly successful, and resulted not only in the families growing sufficient maize for their own use, but also in growing a surplus for sale. Thus, it seemed that the joint problems of food security and income generation were being overcome. However, in order to consolidate the move of these families out of extreme poverty, the Amani Trust decided to extend the possibilities of income generation, and instituted a third component, a cotton growing project, using once again the targeted fertiliser approach mentioned above. This was again very successful, and resulted in substantial income being generated. In a very short time, these survivor families had moved from being highly dependent on support to being able to fund their own activities, but, more importantly, had become resources within their own communities, deriving considerable self-esteem and influence. One measure of the success of this aspect of the community programme was seen in the number of approaches by non-survivor families for inclusion in the family. 4.4.1 1999-2000 season The 1999-2000 season was the first year in which the combined market garden and maize growing project was implemented. As can be seen from Table 6 below, this resulted in all groups earning small amounts after their own food security needs had been met. The table shows the gross tonnage grown and the income earned by each group26. Table 6. Maize Harvest [1999- 2000] Group Pachanza Nyamutamba Nyamashava Chomakuyo Kakeza Size of harvest 1 tonne 2.3 tonnes 1 tonne 2 tonnes 1.3 tonnes Income Z$2,000 Z$6,602 Z$5,924 [GMB] Z$1,044 [GMB] Z$4,800 The table shows two groups that sold to the Grain Marketing Board; these two groups were in the same area and had better rainfall than other three areas. The reason for the good harvests was the proper application of fertilizer and good crop management, even though rainfall was erratic during the season. 26 These sums may seem paltry by the standards of 2005, but represented significant income in 1999 and 2000. It is likely that the groups would have earned at least 100 times this amount in 2005, but, more importantly, the groups not only provided for their own food security but also earned income as well. AMANI TRUST: Psycho-Social assistance to Survivors of the Liberation War. A report on Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe.