Mat South Agric show lives up to billing

Sione Amidu, Sunday News Reporter
The government is working towards making a 20 percent contribution from farming to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2025 as part of the dictates of the economic blueprint, National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).

Speaking at the official opening of the 63rd edition of the Matabeleland South Agricultural Show held in Gwanda recently, the chairman of the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (Arda), Mr Ivan Craig, said farming was a key pillar of the country’s economy.

He also praised the show organisers and exhibitors for adhering to Covid-19 guidelines.

“I would like to thank everyone here present. Let me say that this show happened at a time when our country and indeed the world is in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic that has ravaged most of the communities destructing socioeconomic norms and activities across our societies.

This year’s these; Embracing the new normal, agriculture towards sustainable  economic development,” he said.

He said government was seized with the agriculture and food transformation strategy and the NDS1 which provide a strategic thrust for agriculture up  to 2030.

“The focus is on increasing agricultural output by 2025 and contribute 20% growth of domestic products (GDP) from the currently 12%. Under the NDS 1 blueprint, the commitment is to increase the country’s food sub sufficiency  from the current 45% to 100% and thereby reduce  reliance on imports as we seek to make Zimbabwe a breadbasket for Africa once again.

This tells with the objectives of the Vision 2030  specifically to make our country an upper middle income economy by  the year 2030.”

He said he was impressed with the quality of exhibits at the show.