By Rungano Dzikira

Government has set in motion a coordinated approach to address challenges faced by players in the agricultural sector, in an effort to revitalise it and enable the country to reclaim its status as the breadbasket of Southern Africa.

Speaking at the Ministerial Strategic Planning Workshop, in Bulawayo, this Monday, the Minister of State for Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, Judith Ncube applauded the ministry for engaging Bulawayo in the planning exercise for the country’s agricultural growth and stressed the need to engage other provinces as well.

“There is need to engage as many stakeholders as possible if Government is to see through that the country boosts agriculture in  line with its drive to boost exports this farming season. This workshop will come up with strategies to boost production and overall sector performance.

 “As Bulawayo, we are happy to be part of this strategic planning because we have many capable areas and strategies that will take us through as a country. And the rest of the country’s provinces need to be part of this process,” she said.

She added that these interventions would go a long way towards food and nutrition security, import substitution; export promotion and diversification, value addition and beneficiation, creation of employment and most importantly improved livelihoods.

The agricultural sector is set for a massive transformation based on the Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation strategy, as well as the agriculture recovery plan which is ensuring agriculture transformation and modernisation for the attainment of food self-sufficiency through Smart Agriculture practices.