‘Rural industrialisation will fuel economic growth’
THE Government is paying very close attention to the roll out of the Agriculture and Food Systems Transformations Strategy, as it moves to develop the agriculture sector, which is expected to anchor the rural industrialisation programme.
In a recent X (formerly Twitter) post, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka said the Government had just completed a review of the Agriculture and Food Systems Transformations Strategy, as efforts to ensure food security intensify ahead of the attainment of the country’s Vision 2030.
Dr Masuka underscored the crucial role of agricultural development in fostering rural progress and economic growth in the country.
“Agricultural development must lead to rural industrialisation. Rural industrialisation will spearhead rural development, which will consequently catalyse and facilitate the attainment of Vision 2030,” said Dr Masuka.
He said Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector had immense potential to uplift rural communities by generating employment opportunities, improving food security and stimulating economic activities.
Minister Masuka observed that sustainable agricultural practices and targeted policies were essential to unlock the sector’s potential, while creating a conducive environment for rural development. He said Presidential support programmes to transform the agriculture sector had been producing meaningful results.
“As the majority of citizens are ruralbased, Government is implementing agriculture projects that seek to uplift rural communities from subsistence farming to surplus,” Dr Masuka explained.
Agriculture is at the epicentre of the transformation, precisely because 70 percent of Zimbabweans are in rural areas and they daily eke livelihoods from agriculture. It is agriculture that must power these people out of poverty into a food secure territory and subsequently into income generation for the realisation of Vision 2030.
As Zimbabwe strives to revitalise its rural areas and uplift the livelihoods of its citizens, the Government’s focus on agricultural development underscores the critical role that farming plays in driving sustainable growth, reducing poverty and creating opportunities for rural populations.
Government has developed the National Accelerated Irrigation Rehabilitation and Development Programme anchored by the Agricultural and Food Systems Transformation Strategy, which seeks to strengthen resilience of agricultural livelihoods of vulnerable communities particularly women and children.
This will also allow them to graduate from subsistence farming to adopting a business approach thereby contributing to the national and regional food security situation.
Province by province, the Government has initiated and supported development projects that are meant to improve livelihoods of ordinary people.
Meanwhile, Agriculture and Rural Development Advisory Services (ARDAS) Mashonaland East provincial director Mr Leonard Matamata has revealed that Government is working on ensuring that people in rural communities are incorporated into the larger agenda of building the economy.
He explained that it was the duty of the Ministry to warrant the transformation of farming systems of A1 to commercial and A2 to successful entrepreneurs.
“It is agriculture, which must anchor the transformation of our country towards Vision 2030 because most people are in rural areas.
“Farming is a business that farmers should take seriously. To be productive is not about the size of the land but how you utilise that piece of land,” he observed.