by Grace Chekai
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has today launched the 2020-2025 Agriculture and Food systems transformation strategy at the 8th Annual National Agri-Business Conference.
Speaking at the launch, President Mnangagwa said “This composite plan of action drawn from the Agriculture Recovery and Livestock Growth Plans, seeks to achieve a US$8.2 Billion Agriculture Economy by 2025.”
President Mnangagwa said the above systems were initiated during the tenure of the late National Hero and former Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement, Retired Air Chief Marshal, Honourable Perrance Shiri.
He said Agriculture contributed 15 to 18 percent of the country`s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“Agriculture is the nerve centre of Zimbabwe`s economy contributing between 15 to 18 percent of our Gross Domestic Product. It is the centre pivot from which all other pillars of our economy radiate and the fountain of the manufacturing and tourism sectors as well as a key driver to social and infrastructure development among other aspects,” said the President.
President Mnangagwa said the success of this Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Strategy would be heavily dependent on a coordinated and multi-sectorial approach.
He urged everyone to commit to undertaking all agriculture activities with focus and vigour aimed at ensuring that the 2020/2021 season is a resounding success.
The President said the launch came hard on the heels of his recent launch of the US$ 5 Billion Tourism Strategy in Victoria Falls, as well as the earlier launch of the US$12 Billion Mining Industry Strategy.
He further said that the three mutually reinforcing Strategies envision the attainment of a US$25 Billion economy in the three respective sectors by 2025.
He thanked the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and the Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute (IAPRI) for partnering with the Zimbabwe Government towards the development of this comprehensive Agriculture Strategy.
He said his administration was indeed committed to ending hunger and poverty in line with the aspiration of the United Nations` Sustainable Development Goals and the 2014 African Union Malabo Declaration.
President Mnangagwa urged the Livestock sub-sector to purposefully collaborate towards enhancing research and development, knowledge transfer and the growth of a livestock value chain industry targeted for the export markets.
Supporting agriculture is essential as the sector is the backbone of the country’s economy. Zimbabwe will soon retain its bread basket status in the region, if all responsible stakeholders unite and work together in attaining the launched strategy.
