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Ashton Mutyavaviri
GOVERNMENT’S efforts to address food security and bolster agricultural productivity are intensifying with 2 337 324 households receiving 2 337 324 vegetable combo seed packs under the Presidential Vegetable Combo Packs since the start of 2023/24 season.
The vegetable combo comprises one gramme each of tomato, onion, carrot, rape and cabbage.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development chief crop production specialist Mrs Hilda Manditsvara said Government was targeting to distribute 3, 5 million vegetable seed packs this year in a move expected to boost food security and create employment.
“The objective is to decrease vulnerability of smallholder farmers to food and nutrition insecurity and climate change effects whilst enhancing their ability to produce for the market,” she said.
She said the distribution of vegetable combo seed packs held the promise of transforming the lives of smallholder farmers and contributing to the nation’s overall development.
Mrs Manditsvara urged beneficiaries to engage in either backyard gardening or small-scale farming, which can contribute significantly to household food production.
The Government is rolling out various initiatives under the Horticulture Growth and Recovery Plan (HGRP) and the National Agriculture Policy Framework (NAPF) to boost horticultural production and enhance food security and incomes.
The HGRP and NAPF are government programmes that seek to stimulate both commercial and rural horticultural production to accelerate both domestic and export output and profitability and contribute significantly to food security and nutrition, import substitution, foreign currency generation, employment creation, diversification of rural economies and generating household incomes.
The Government’s initiative has received widespread support from agricultural experts and farmers’ organisations. They view it as a significant step towards revitalising the agriculture sector and improving food self-sufficiency in the country.
Meanwhile, Knowledge Transfer Africa (KTA) chief executive officer said by promoting the cultivation of high-value vegetables, farmers would have the opportunity to increase incomes and contribute to the overall economic growth of the nation.
“Many people were making money through selling vegetables in the mass markets, with a bundle of covo going for US$4, rape and tsunga-US$3.
“A 30 kilogramme sandak of tomatoes was priced at the average price of US$10 and US$15, paving the way for people who are into tomato production to make some money,” said Dr Dhewa.
Many consumers now prefer open markets where agricultural commodities are delivered straight from the farm, he observed.
He added that horticultural production of daily consumables was key in boosting farmers’ earnings.
Online Reporter