Export crops to transform rural areas, says Mnangagwa

HARARE - Exportoriented agriculture has the scope to foster rapid rural industrialisation and expedite the attainment of Vision 2030, President Mnangagwa has said.

The President said this in a speech read by Zanu PF secretary for administration, Dr Obert Mpofu, at the official launch of the Gutu Central constituency garlic export programme at the weekend.

The programme, a brainchild of Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando - who is the local Member of Parliament, was started in 2018. Extensive work has been done since 2018 to ascertain the crop’s adaptability in the district.

President Mnangagwa also pledged the Government’s support for such initiatives and called on the private sector to partake in the project.

“I am very pleased to be here in Gutu Central Constituency, where there are dedicated garlic farmers who have excelled in their garlic farming endeavours,” said the President.

“I am inspired by the garlic farming success by the people of Gutu Central constituency whose farming vision has export orientation.

“Such projects being implemented at rural level have the scope to lead to rural industrialisation.

“The NDS1 economic blueprint encourages our farmers to take advantage of a combination of low hanging fruits or quick win projects with a medium term impact as well as projects with a longer term impact,” said President Mnangagwa.