by Harare Post Reporter
Government will continue supporting farmers in a bid to improve agriculture production towards a prosperous, diverse, sustainable and competitive agricultural sector.
This was said by President Emmerson Mnangagwa today, during the tour of Kunatsa Estate in Matepatepa, Bindura where he witnessed the commendable work being done by that estate towards achieving the Winter Wheat Programme targets set by Government.
“Rest assured that my administration will continue to support farmers as we improve agriculture productivity towards a prosperous, diverse, sustainable and competitive agriculture sector. I therefore, challenge farmers to fully exploit the abundant land and water bodies to produce strategic agriculture products to meet our national demand and penetrate the global value chains,” said the President.
The President also assured farmers of constant supply of fuel and electricity to increase productivity on the farms.
“Government through the Ministry of Energy and Power Development will do all that is possible to facilitate reliable fuel and power supplies to the agriculture sector,” added the President.
President Mnangagwa also said that the tour of Kunatsa Estate, where 350 and 150 hectares of land is under wheat and barley respectively, came two days after the launch of US $8.2 billion Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Strategy.
This Strategy, the President said, was derived from the Agriculture Recovery Plan and the Livestock Growth Plan and anchors the Government’s endeavours to attain food and nutrition security.
President Mnangagwa paid tribute to the late Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement, Retired Chief Air Marshall Perrence Shiri for his contribution towards the formulation of the Agriculture Recovery Plan.
The President further commended the mixed farming model at Kunatsa Estate and said it helped create employment and empowerment opportunities for the local communities.
“True to the expectations of the Agriculture Recovery Plan, the production levels, dedication and commitment to farming we have witnessed here reflect what is possible. The mixed farming here at Kunatsa Estate which includes cropping, diary, beef and poultry as well as honey production has resulted in the creation of employment and empowerment opportunities for the local communities,” he said.
The Head of State and Government urged farmers to fully utilise their farms so that the country will not continue importing food.
“Going forward, there must be a corresponding relation between one’s level of mechanisation and ultimate productivity. Those who are mechanised must produce to their level, while those with draught power and those without, must equally work hard according to their capabilities. As a nation, we have come to the point where we must say goodbye to food imports,” added the President.
President Mnangagwa also said that Government had set the winter wheat target and had since appointed Vice President Constantino Chiwenga to chair the Cabinet Committee on Food and Nutrition Security. This committee will ensure that the set targets of production on farms are achieved.
President Mnangagwa further wished that the agriculture ventures such as the one at Kunatsa Estate will become the epicentre of rural industry systems through the value addition of various farming products.
Various Government official including Vice President Chiwenga, Ministers Anxious Masuka, Kazembe Kazembe and Monica Mavhunga were among other Government officials who graced the occasion.
