THE Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) in partnership with the Agriculture youth desk are set to establish export market corridors for horticultural produce following the just-ended agribusiness symposium in London.
AMA chief executive officer Mr Clever Isaya said they were engaging the London business community in the agriculture space, as they intended to export agricultural produce to their markets.
As the country seeks to growing export earnings through the Government’s export strategy the United Kingdom (UK) market has been identified as an avenue that young farmers can explore and achieve profitability.
“Our main purpose for attending this event is to identify the potential markets for the country’s horticulture produce and we have noticed that there is a huge appetite for the country’s produce,” said Mr Isaya.
Director of Spring Well Global Foundation Trust UK, Roslin Mache said the symposium was intended to create market linkages while assessing, which spaces Zimbabwe’s production sector can occupy.
“We have observed that Zimbabwe’s organic produce is on demand because of its health benefits therefore roping in the youth is critical in the country’s empowerment drive steaming from the agriculture sector,” she said.
The Government has made efforts in improving the competitiveness, innovation, research and development and market access of the country’s horticultural products.
The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development is developing robust market systems that address the dictates of exports and domestic uptake while creating market linkages for government-led initiatives.
“The youths agricultural programmes are set to bolster the sector’s production through enhanced research, innovation and access to capital therefore this visit addresses the need to access profitable markets,” agriculture youth desk coordinator in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Mr Nickros Kajengo said.
AMA is tasked with the role of regulating the marketing of agriculture produce while developing applicable business models and creating market linkages for government-led initiatives.
“The Government is mainstreaming the idea of market driven production at the heart of all agriculture processes through strong market surveys so that farmers can develop an appetite to produce that, which has a ready market as the Ministry makes forward strides to transform the agriculture sector in line with modern business practices,” said Mr Kajengo.
The Presidential Horticulture Scheme, which was effected in 2020 seeks to create and sustain a US$1, 2 billion horticulture economy by 2025 and up to US$3, 5 billion by 2030.
Recently the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development permanent secretary Dr John Basera said they were developing and revitalising horticulture-related infrastructure and ancillary services, including agro-processing and associated infrastructure to establish sustainable and effective funding mechanisms to attract foreign investment in horticulture production. – The Herald
