MIDWEEK REPORTER
HARARE- The unparalleled growth witnessed in the country’s agriculture sector over the past four years must be sustained, President Mnangagwa has said.
In his remarks at the official opening of the 113th edition of the Zimbabwe Agriculture Show in Harare on Friday last week, President Mnangagwa attributed the success story in the agriculture sector in the previous seasons to the climate proofed production like the pfumvudza/intwasa programme, and the presidential input scheme among other interventions.
‘’The unparalleled growth witnessed in our country’s agriculture sector over the past four years must be sustained. The previous target of US$8, 2 billion by December 2022 was surpassed when we achieved a US$9, 9 billion. This has necessitated an upward revision of the target to US$13, 75 billion agriculture sector by 2025,’’ said Mnangagwa.
He added that: ‘’This unprecedented growth is a result of robust and resilient agriculture sector driven by climate proofed production, productivity. The pfumvudza /intwasa programme and the presidential input scheme among other interventions have contributed to both household and national food security.’’
President Mnangagwa said the accelerated irrigation development and rehabilitation programme has to date increased hectares under irrigation to 204 000 hectares from 173 000 hectares in 2020.
He said the country is on course to achieve the target of irrigating 350 000 hectares by 2025.
‘’Under the accelerated irrigation development and rehabilitation programme, the (agriculture) sector has to date realized 204 000 hectares under irrigation from 173 000 hectares in 2020. We are on course to achieve the target of irrigating 350 000 hectares by 2025,’’ he said.
The show ran under the theme, ‘’Sustained Growth, Adaptation, Productivity and Linkages.’’
President Mnangagwa said this year’s show theme encapsulates the country’s vision for agriculture development through comprehensive policies for modernization, mechanization and value chain development.
This year’s Zimbabwe Agriculture Show started on the 28th of August and ended on the 2nd of September 2023 and hundreds of thousands passed through the gates during the course of the premier annual event.
