Online Reporter
Nokuthula Dube
The Government is stepping up the implementation of Rural Development 8.0, with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development targeting the distribution of more than 18 million fruit trees by 2030 to ensure no household is left behind.
The renewed push follows a week-long strategic planning workshop where senior officials crafted the ministry’s 2026–2030 Strategic Plan, sharpening focus on rural transformation and climate-smart livelihoods.
Rural Development director, Mr Leonard Munamati, said the programme’s success hinges on a rapid scale-up of fruit-tree production and distribution across all provinces.
“One of the strongest resolutions from the workshop was the need to speed up rural transformation projects, with particular emphasis on fruit-tree production and distribution,” he said.
“Under the programme, each household is expected to receive at least 10 fruit trees within the next five years – a target that requires more than 18 million seedlings nationwide.”
As part of efforts to assess national capacity, officials toured Dr Preacherd Donga’s fruit-tree nursery, which produces more than 20 000 seedlings, including mango, citrus and other climate-suitable varieties.
In a side interview, Dr Donga said demand for training and seedlings was rising.
“We have been approached by different school headmasters to train and educate schoolchildren,” he said.
“Due to space limitations, Bulawayo City Council has offered us a bigger greenhouse facility to nurture our trees because this place was becoming smaller.”
Mr Munamati said the visit formed part of a broader nationwide assessment as the Government seeks to secure adequate planting material to meet the ambitious 2030 target.
“The Ministry has already mapped the country to identify which fruit varieties perform best in each region,” he said.
“This information will guide large-scale distribution efforts and help avoid losses caused by planting unsuitable species in certain climatic zones.”
The ministry is now reviewing its approaches to ensure faster and more efficient delivery of Rural Development 8.0 programmes from next year.
“Come next year, we will be looking at how to adjust some of the strategies we have been using so that we expedite implementation and meet these targets by 2030,” he said.
Officials emphasised that the programme is transitioning from design to execution, with households encouraged to begin sourcing fruit trees rather than solely relying on Government distribution.
While the State initiated the national programme, Mr Munamati said its success will depend on wider participation.
“The ministry is calling on private nurseries, individual growers and development partners to collaborate with Government to bridge the current supply gap and support rural livelihoods,” he said.
