THE Government’s Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Strategy is set to propel the country’s food production levels to yester-year glory through increased productivity and maximum land utilisation.
Addressing farmers and other stakeholders in the agriculture sector at Nkunzani Farm recently Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development permanent secretary Dr John Basera said the growth being experienced in the sector was evidence of effective Government programmes.
The Government’s strategy seeks to develop a robust agriculture sector capable of turning around and steering Zimbabwe towards Vision 2030 by providing strategic responses to increasing population, low agriculture production, productivity and climate change.
“Under the Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Strategy we target to reverse the negative trends of food production in the country experienced since the land reform programme,” said Dr Basera.
The development of country’s agriculture sector is key in reducing poverty, hunger and malnutrition as 67percent of the population resides in rural areas and relies on smallholder farming as a source of livelihood while 72 percent of people live in poverty with of these based 84 percent in rural areas.
“We aim to grow the agriculture economy in the country, as it is the backbone of the overall economic and transformation process,” said Dr Basera.
The Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Strategy is a 5-year programme that was launched by Government in 2019 to boost the country’s food production.
“The agriculture revolution is a process that takes time for a country to realise growth in the sector and these Government blueprints are lined up to consolidate the gains of the land reform so that we become a top example in Africa,” said Dr Basera.
In addition, the Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Strategy is positioned to create a robust agriculture sector that will turn around the economy and achieve food and nutrition security in the face of increasing population and climate change.
“The Government and private sector partnerships show the enabling environment and implementation of innovative policies, which is enhancing investment opportunities in agriculture,” said Dr Basera.
The is happy with the private sector’s complementary role efforts towards primary production especially with the 32 percent contribution to this year’s wheat season.
He added that the private sector contributed 10 000 hectares in 2020, 20 000 hectares and 30 000 hectares in 2021 and 2022 respectively for winter wheat translating into aggressive growth in food production.
“The transformation programme will contribute to sustainable industrial development through the provision of up to 60 percent of industry’s requirements from competitively home-grown agricultural raw materials by 2030,” he said.
Private sector participation is beneficial to the commercial viability of agriculture on both farmers’ and agro-processing industries’ level towards expanding the food sector value chain.
“The value addition component is even now more attainable especially with the import substitution thrust that seek to empower local manufactures and producers to produce that which can be consumed by the industry,” said Dr Basera. – The Herald
