By Rutendo Jiri
Atleast 26 000 villages are set to benefit from the Nationwide Rural Horticulture Transformation Programme which runs under the Presidential Horticulture Programme.
Commenting on his Twitter account, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement, John Basera said, Government has set targets for rural farmers to contribute to the country’s food basket through the growing of horticultural products.
“National Rural Horticulture Transformation Programme targets by 2025; One nutrition and income garden per village targeting 26 000 villages,” he posted.
Basera said that the Nationwide Rural Horticulture Transformation Programme is targeting 1.8 million families, each household planting 10 trees.
The Permanent Secretary also revealed that, Government’s was dedicated to resuscitating the country’s once vibrant citrus plantations.
Working on a program to resuscitate all the citrus plantations in Zimbabwe by 2025. We have crowded in the participation of exporters such as FarmgGate and others. Yes, it can be done,” tweeted Basera.
Farmers are expected to start implementing the horticulture programe and reclamation of the Mazoe farms beginning this rainy season and the programme would run until 2025.
At its height, Zimbabwe was the biggest exporter of citrus fruits from Southern Africa across the World.
Basera encouraged farmers to take advantage of the rainy season and Government’s massive irrigation programmes being rolled out for 2020/21 farming season.
Meanwhile, Government through the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Prof Mthuli Ncube during his National Budget Presentation, pledged support for commercial farmers with support of irrigation equipment worth ZWL$3.9 billion for the 2020/21 agriculture season.
He also said that, Government had set aside ZWL$765 million for the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) to capacitate it to adequately predict weather forecasts.
The MSD has predicted that Zimbabwe would receive average to above average rainfall this season.
This would come as a boost to farmers, mostly rural farmers implementing Government sponsored programmes such as Pfumvudza and the Presidential Horticulture Programme.
