Government targets 10 000 business units next year to ensure national food security

Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube

GOVERNMENT has set aside ZiG670 million to support Rural Development 8.0 interventions anchored on value-adding and beneficiating agricultural produce, raising incomes for communities, ensuring national food security at the household level and expects to establish 10 000 business units next year.
Presenting the 2025 national budget, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube said the objective is to establish 35 000 village business units (VBU) in 35 000 villages, 4 800 Youth business units (YBU) and 9 600 School Business Units (SBU), which can generate income for households in order to improve livelihood by 2028.
“During 2025, the target is the establishment of 10 000 business units. Rural Development 8.0 interventions will create the much-needed rural industrialisation and spur economic development, uplifting the livelihoods of the rural population and reducing rural-to-urban migration through economic empowerment,” said Prof Mthuli Ncube.
The establishment of village business units (VBUs) by the Government has demonstrated that it is the panacea to President Mnangagwa’s rural industrialisation and modernisation agenda meant to transform marginalised communities in line with his philosophy of leaving no place and no one behind.
Village business units have shown huge potential to revolutionise rural communities and improve the quality of their lives consistent with the National Development Strategy 1.
On the other hand, the impact of school business units that have started to be felt is the ultimate reduction of fees given that there will be other revenue-generating streams other than school fees from parents.
The VBUs are equipped with irrigation systems and greenhouses where households engage in horticultural production, among other income-generating projects.