Staff Reporter
President Mnangagwa has urged African nations to craft robust policies and implement radical, transformative strategies to eliminate hunger across the continent.
Emphasising the need for targeted efforts to uplift the predominantly rural population, the President stressed the importance of focusing on women, youths, and marginalised communities.
In a speech delivered on his behalf by Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development Minister, Dr. Anxious Masuka, at the World Without Hunger Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, yesterday, President Mnangagwa highlighted Zimbabwe’s commitment to food and nutrition security through its Agriculture,
Food Systems, and Rural Transformation Strategy.
“To achieve household food security for the 62 percent of our population residing in rural areas, my Government has further launched ‘Rural Development 8.0,’ a suite of outcome-based, impact-oriented interventions designed to leave no one and no place behind,” said President Mnangagwa.
President Mnangagwa noted that despite challenges such as the El Niño-induced drought, Zimbabwe had achieved food self-sufficiency in years with normal rainfall through the Pfumvudza/Intwasa model, a sustainable, intensive conservation agriculture method.
This climate-proofing initiative, coupled with increased irrigation development, will ensure food supplies for vulnerable rural households until the next harvest in March 2025.
“To build resilience within our communities, Government has mobilised sufficient inputs, including fertiliser, seed, and chemicals, for all rural households ahead of the main rainfall season. This support will enable communities to bounce back stronger and build forward better,” he said.
President Mnangagwa emphasised the transformation of agriculture into a business-driven sector, from smallholder to large-scale farming operations.
As part of this effort, the President informed that the Village Business Units were being established in all 35 000 rural villages across Zimbabwe.
“Our national agricultural transformation agenda has created an enabling policy and regulatory environment, increased public sector financing of agriculture, and engaged the private sector. We are investing in resilient, climate-proofed agriculture, soil health management, technology, and modern farming techniques to boost productivity.
“We must harness our collective, continent-wide political will to bring about the sustained agricultural transformation needed to eradicate hunger, improve nutrition, and uplift communities out of poverty. I firmly believe that this is possible,” President Mnangagwa said.
The three-day World Without Hunger Conference, organised by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), the Ethiopian government, and the African Union (AU), with technical assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), commenced at the Adwa Victory Memorial Museum in Addis Ababa.
