Private sector rallied to invest in agric development

Walter Nyamukondiwa

Mash West Bureau Chief

The private sector in Mashonaland West should participate in agriculture to bolster the province’s contribution towards increasing the area under summer irrigation to 90 000ha from 75 000ha.

The crops, horticulture, fisheries and livestock summer plan for 2024-2025 has increased the area under irrigation and Mashonaland West will soon launch and cascade the plan to districts.

Speaking at the opening of the 103rd Mashonaland West Agricultural Show in Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Marian Chombo invited investment in agricultural development, targeting climate proofing and irrigation development to bolster productivity.

“Here in Mashonaland West, we are soliciting investors in sectors of the economy, agriculture being at the core,” she said. “The province welcomes all investments aimed at improving productivity like irrigation development and climate proofing agriculture.”

Minister Chombo also called for investment in value addition, particularly in agro-processing to boost the province’s gross domestic product, which is presently at ZiG27 billion.

Agriculture contributes about 16 percent to the provincial GDP and the province contributes about 12,3 percent to the national GDP. Mashonaland West Agriculture Show chairman Mr Godfrey Mavankeni said the theme for this year was tailored to promote productivity in support of the National Development Strategy 1.

Agriculture remained one of the key sectors in the country’s quest towards achieving Vision 2030. The 2022 census showed that 61 percent of the population lived in rural areas and depended directly or indirectly on agriculture.

“This means that farmers should take advantage of platforms like this to learn from others, share experiences and discuss innovations in farming to ensure improved production and productivity,” said Mr Mavankeni.

Farmers should treat agriculture as a lucrative business and take advantage of the Government’s full support for the sector.

He also expressed satisfaction with the high number of exhibitors and farmers who participated in the show.

Stakeholder support and investment into an ambitious master plan, which seeks to transform the Showgrounds into a Smart City, should be supported by all, he added.