Online Reporter
Theseus Mauruki Shambare in GOROMONZI
THE Agricultural and Rural Development Authority’s (ARDA) integrated production model is emerging as a key pillar of Zimbabwe’s food security strategy, with Parliament saying the authority is helping remove financial, technical and infrastructure barriers that have long constrained commercial crop production.
The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development made the observations during an oversight tour of ARDA projects in Mashonaland East today, where lawmakers assessed progress under the authority’s expanded Government mandate as the country’s National Food Security Agency.
Under the mandate, ARDA is spearheading efforts to build strategic grain reserves while accelerating irrigation development, expanding climate-smart seed production and increasing partnerships with commercial farmers to climate-proof agricultural production.
The authority has already surpassed its target of delivering 150 000 metric tonnes of maize to the Strategic Grain Reserve as part of Government’s preparedness for an anticipated El Niño season. It is now targeting another 150 000 metric tonnes from the ongoing wheat season, followed by a further 150 000 metric tonnes from the forthcoming summer cropping programme, creating a strategic buffer to cushion vulnerable households against climate-induced food shortages.
Committee chairperson Hon Felix Maburutse said lawmakers were impressed by a newly established 50-hectare centre-pivot wheat project in Goromonzi, where a maiden crop is expected to deliver encouraging yields.
“It is our second day. We are now in Mashonaland East Province where we have visited this farm, and this is the first crop we are seeing on this farm in Goromonzi.
“The crop is looking very good and the farmer is expecting yields of 3,5 tonnes and above per hectare, which is very encouraging considering this is the first wheat crop,” he said.
Hon Maburutse said Parliament established that farmers under ARDA’s joint venture programme receive comprehensive support, including land preparation, fertilisers, agronomic services, mechanisation, harvesting and grain delivery to the Grain Marketing Board.
He said reliable water and electricity supplies, coupled with a payment arrangement that enables utility costs to be recovered after grain delivery, were helping farmers focus on production.
ARDA Operations and Commercial Production Director Mr Shingirai Jenah said the authority was scaling up irrigation development and modern production technologies to fulfil its food security mandate.
He said ARDA plans to expand irrigated land to 25 000 hectares by 2030, while the coming summer season will see at least 75 000 hectares planted under irrigated maize, with the remaining hectarage devoted to traditional grains to strengthen climate resilience.
Mr Jenah said the authority’s production model is supported by a blended financing approach, with 32 percent of production financed directly by ARDA while the balance is funded through bank-guaranteed facilities that are unlocking greater private sector participation.
A beneficiary of the programme, Munda Access director Mr Thabo Ruswa, said ARDA’s end-to-end support had enabled his company to successfully establish 50 hectares of wheat.
“They assist us with everything we need for production, including fertilisers, agronomic support, land preparation machinery and combine harvesters during harvesting.
“They support us throughout the entire production process,” he said.
The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee will continue touring ARDA projects across the country’s rural provinces, with its findings expected to shape recommendations on strengthening the authority’s contribution to food security, irrigation expansion and climate-resilient agricultural production.
