NEW: Government targets 10 000 village business units by year-end

Online Reporter

Government is targeting to establish 10 000 village business units (VBUs) across the country by the end of this year.

The areas largely targeted are in regions 4 and 5, which are the country’s drier regions.

In an interview with The Sunday Mail Online, acting chief director for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Advisory Services (ARDAS) Mr Leonard Munamati said:

“Village business units, youth business units and school business units are a robust drought mitigation measure through the provision of food, nutrition and financial security to the rural population.

“Under Rural Development 8.0, the Ministry is drilling boreholes and establishing village business units and school business units.

“The target is to establish at least 10 000 village business units by the end of this year and for us to be able to achieve the set target, at least about 1 000 village business units every month should be achieved.”

Mr Munamati said the VBUs are about one hectare each, and have a borehole that is drilled on site, which is fitted with tanks.

The boreholes are solar-powered to facilitate drip irrigation.

“These are very important because if we manage 10 000 of them that will mean tens of thousands of hectares of irrigated land,” he said.