24 village business units for Buhera start running
IN a bid to bolster local economies and improve livelihoods, Government has established 24 model village business units in Buhera District.
In a post Cabinet briefing last week, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere said a total of 24 village business units have been established through the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development.
Dr Muswere said to top it all and support the business units, 57 boreholes were drilled in the district out of a targeted 50.
President Mnangagwa handed over the model village business units to the beneficiaries during the Independence Day celebrations last Thursday.
The ministry’s deputy director of fisheries and aquaculture resources production, Mrs Lilian Nyashanu said the development is part of plans by Government to establish a vast network of business units across the country.
Mrs Nyashanu said the initiative aims to set up 35 000 village business units, along with 4 800 youth business units and 10 000 school business units in the country.
“The overarching goal is to enhance both nutrition and income generation within the communities and beyond. As a country, we are aiming to become an empowered upper middle class economy by 2030 and as the ministry to support this vision, we came up with the Agricultural and Rural Transformation Strategy which seeks to increase crop, livestock, fisheries production and productivity for food security,” she said.
Mrs Nyashanu said they are also implementing the Presidential Community Fisheries Scheme, which has seen the establishment of two fish ponds for each village business unit.
“The department is also supplying fingerlings to the established ponds in the business units, thereby making sure that there is going to be an increased fish production in all the villages in the country for people to have their nutrition needs met. The fish that they harvest can also be sold to generate income for their families,” she said.
This strategic move is poised to significantly augment fish production nationwide, fulfilling both nutritional needs and economic aspirations.
She said in line with capacity-building efforts they are actively training youths and retirees in aquaculture production and fisheries management.
“These comprehensive training programmes are designed to equip farmers with the necessary skills and knowledge to maximize productivity and ensure sustainable fish farming practices.
“Furthermore, various trainings on sustainable fisheries and aquaculture production are taking place across the country to ensure that farmers do fish farming the right way, while making sure that they are going to increase their productivity and increase their production per business unit,” she said.
Mrs Nyashanu said Government will also roll out Presidential Rural Development programmes targeting the establishment of these village business units.
“To achieve this, the ministry came up with the Rural Development 8.0 where there are going to be Presidential Rural Development Programmes targeting 35 000 village business units which translates to the nation’s 35 000 villages, 4 800 youth business units and 10 000 school business units,” she said.
Mrs Nyashanu said they envision a future where the agricultural sector becomes a robust US$13.7 billion industry.