In Zimbabwe, where iron deficiency remains a serious public health challenge, smallholder farmers are playing a pivotal role in providing a solution. Thanks to the “Scaling Nutrition Resilience in Zimbabwe” project—funded by the Happel Foundation and implemented by HarvestPlus and its partners, —farmers are growing iron rich beans of the NUA45 variety, a nutrient-dense crop now reaching supermarket shelves at scale through Chico Foods.

Chico Foods, a local food processing business, packages and distributes NUA45 beans through major retailers such as TM Pick n Pay, OK Zimbabwe, and Choppies. The company has experienced great success from integrating NUA45 as a product line—benefiting from increased product diversity and attracting a growing number of health-conscious customers. This has not only expanded Chico Foods’ customer base but has also boosted its overall profits, making NUA45 a strategic and impactful addition to their offerings.

“We are excited about NUA45 beans as one of our products because it is changing how people think about nutrition,” said Malvin Shiringo, Sales Manager at Chico Foods. “These beans are helping address iron deficiency while offering Zimbabweans a healthier alternative.”

The Scaling Nutrition Resilience in Zimbabwe project ensures that farmers and food processors work together to bring nutrient-rich foods to the market. HarvestPlus has helped Chico Foods access high-quality NUA45 beans, building a sustainable value chain that benefits both farmers and consumers.

“Working with companies such as Chico Foods guarantees us a reliable market for our NUA45 beans,” said Esau Chana, a smallholder farmer from Mt Darwin. “They offer fair prices, which motivates us to produce more. Chico also helps us overcome the usual challenges of aggregation and transport—they come directly to our fields to buy the beans, which makes the whole process easier and more efficient for us as farmers.”

“Through our partnership with Chico Foods, we are ensuring that smallholder farmers have a reliable and lucrative market for their produce, while making nutrient-rich foods more accessible to all, including non-farming consumers,” said Sakile Kudita, Country Manager for HarvestPlus Zimbabwe. “By strengthening this value chain, we are playing our part in the global fight against iron deficiency and improving the health outcomes of especially women of childbearing age and children under five.”

Despite the success, farmers face challenges such as drought and limited access to irrigation, which can threaten production. To address this, Chico Foods and HarvestPlus work closely with farmers to promote climate-smart agricultural practices and improve access to water-efficient farming solutions. “We want to be known for bringing nutritious food to Zimbabweans,” added Shiringo. “A healthier Zimbabwe benefits everyone, and NUA45 beans are key to that vision.”

Thanks to the Scaling Nutrition Resilience in Zimbabwe project, the partnership between smallholder farmers, Chico Foods, and HarvestPlus is ensuring that Zimbabweans gain access to biofortified foods, catalyzing the fight against hidden hunger. With continued collaboration, NUA45 beans and other biofortified bean varieties will remain a staple in Zimbabwean households, improving nutrition and livelihoods—one meal at a time.