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Walter Nyamukondiwa
Mashonaland West Bureau Chief
Mashonaland West province has called for private sector participation to bolster the province’s contribution towards increasing the area under summer irrigation to 90 000 ha from 75 000ha.
The Crops, Horticulture, Fisheries and Livestock Summer Plan 2024/25 has increased the area under irrigation and Mashonaland West province will soon launch and cascade the plan to districts.
Speaking at the opening of the 103rd Mashonaland West Agricultural Show in Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Marian Chombo called for investment in agricultural development, targeting climate-proofing and irrigation development to bolster productivity.
“Here in Mashonaland West province, we are soliciting for investors in various sectors of the economy. Agriculture is at the core,” she said.
“The province welcomes all investments aimed at improving productivity like irrigation development and climate-proofing agriculture.”
Minister Chombo also called for investment in value addition, particularly in agro-processing to boost the province’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), currently at 27 billion ZIG.
Agriculture contributes about 16 percent to the provincial GDP and the province’s contribution to the national GDP is 12,3 percent and the annual growth rate is 4,2 percent.
Mashonaland West Agriculture Show chairman Godfrey Mavankeni said the theme was tailored to promote productivity in support of NDS1.
“Agriculture remains one of the key sectors in the country’s quest towards achieving Vision 2030. According to the 2022 census, 61 percent of the population is in rural areas and depends on agriculture,” he said.
“This means that farmers should take advantage of platforms like this to learn from others, share experiences, and discuss innovations in farming to ensure improved production and productivity.”
He said farmers should treat agriculture as a lucrative business and take advantage of the Government’s full support for the sector.
Mr Mavankeni expressed satisfaction with the high number of exhibitors and farmers who participated.
He called for stakeholder support and investment into an ambitious Master Plan that seeks to transform the showgrounds into a Smart City.
Online Reporter