Online Reporter
The Herald, 6 May 1985
THE Minister of Trade and Commerce, Cde Richard Hove, will officially open a Commercial Farmers’ Union two-day horticultural seminar in Harare this month.
A spokesman for the union said the ministers of Transport, Dr Herbert Ushewokunze, and Agriculture, Senator Denis Norman, were also expected to address the seminar.
The seminar, which will concentrate mainly on the production and marketing of flowers and sub-tropical fruit is expected to be attended by 300 people and addressed by well-known international and local experts.
The CFU president, Mr John Laurie, said, “Objectives of the seminar are to broaden knowledge, discuss the problems and, hopefully, encourage the long-term development of an industry that could become a major foreign exchange earner and lead to additional employment in Zimbabwe.”
He expressed the CFU’s appreciation to those organisations, particularly airlines and embassies. Whose assistance and sponsorship had helped to make possible the staging of the seminar and to bring out international experts.
Lessons for today
- This was a good initiative for a developing country like Zimbabwe. The horticultural seminar was designed to broaden knowledge, address challenges, and improve production and marketing.
- A developing country grows faster when farmers, producers, and entrepreneurs are exposed to new ideas, technologies, and global best practices. The seminar focused on flowers and sub-tropical fruit, sectors targeting export markets, not just local consumption.
- The seminar aimed to develop an industry that could become a major foreign exchange earner. Foreign exchange earnings strengthen the economy, improve balance of payments, and fund national development.
- Development is built through knowledge, cooperation, openness, and strategic investment in productive sectors that create jobs and earn foreign currency. For countries like Zimbabwe, the initiative shows that human skills, export focus, and partnerships are just as important as natural resources hence sowing the seeds of sustainable development, economic stability and improved livelihoods for all.
