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Elton Manguwo
THE Government has set its sights on growing the horticulture sector to generate US$143 million through exports by 2024, as it rides on the strength of the Presidential horticulture scheme meant to benefit 2, 3 million rural households that will participate in fruit production and nutrition gardens.
Speaking during a fruit tree planting ceremony in Murehwa on Friday, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development permanent secretary Dr John Basera said the horticulture sector was contributing in excess of US$65 million and targeted to generate export proceeds of US$143 million by end of 2024.
“The scheme will stimulate both conventional and rural horticulture production to accelerate domestic and export horticulture production, productivity and profitability,” said Dr Basera. The Presidential Horticulture Scheme, which was effected in 2020 seeks to create and sustain a US$1, 217 billion rural horticulture economy by 2025, and up to US$3,5 billion by 2030.
“The overall purpose of the scheme is to guide and support the revival of the conventional horticulture industry to stimulate a transformative rural horticulture sub-sector covering all 1, 8 million rural households,” said Dr Basera.
The expected overall increase in rural household incomes from horticulture production will be from US$ 675 per household annually to US$2 000 per household per month by 2030.
Dr Basera highlighted that the presidential horticulture scheme will contribute significantly to food security and nutrition, import substitution, foreign currency generation, employment creation and raising household incomes.
The Government has made efforts in improving the competitiveness, innovation, research and development and market access of the country’s horticultural products.
“The Ministry is developing and revitalising horticulture-related infrastructure and ancillary services, including agro-processing and marketing hubs and associated infrastructure to establish sustainable and effective funding mechanisms and attract foreign investment to the horticulture sector,” said Dr Basera.
The Government has made significant strides to avail funding to the horticulture sub-sector through the US$30 million revolving facility. He added that exporters were benefiting from this fund, as the blueberry farmers had increased production by 34percent from 3 500 tonnes in 2021 to 4 700 tonnes in 2022 with the sub-sector now poised to reach an output of 6 500 tonnes by end of 2023 from a planned area of 470 hectares.
“We are improving multi-stakeholder cooperation, coordination and collaboration to strengthen the horticultural value chain,” he said.
The Horticulture Recovery and Growth Plan envisages that horticulture production and more importantly fruit tree production will significantly contribute to the gross domestic product growth (GDP) by feeding into Vision 2030, Sustainable Development Goals and National Development Strategy.
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