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Sikhulekelani Moyo, Business Reporter
FACILITATING capacity building for farmers and partnerships is critical in driving the success of the National Horticulture Recovery and Growth Plan, which seeks to boost domestic production with a focus on growing exports.
Government launched the horticulture recovery plan in 2020 to stimulate both conventional and rural horticulture production.
This is part of a comprehensive drive by the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa to accelerate domestic production across sectors of which the export of horticulture produce is seen as a low-hanging fruit.
At the heart of the strategy is the need to develop vibrant value addition to contribute significantly to food security and nutrition, import-substitution, foreign currency generation, employment creation, and improving household incomes in pursuit of Vision 2030.
Inspired by the thrust, international seed producer and exporter, SeedCo Limited, through its vegetables unit, has partnered with the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (Adra) Zimbabwe to drive the horticulture momentum.
Speaking during a recent field day held at Adra demonstration farm in Umguza, Matabeleland North Province, Adra acting country director, Mr Fortune Goredema, stressed the importance of capacity building and partnerships in agriculture success.
“SeedCo and Adra Zimbabwe have partnered and you are all here gathered to witness one of the successful partnerships that has been structured between a non-governmental organisation and a private company,” he said.
“We were here in Bulawayo (in May) where we conducted a stakeholder sensitisation meeting on the National Horticulture Recovery and Growth Plan.
“The stakeholder sensitisation meeting was followed by a tour of this farm and among the participants who took part in this event was SeedCo Vegetables who promised to partner Adra Zimbabwe,” said Mr Goredema.
SeedCo general manager, Mrs Felisters Ndawi, said they were working with Adra in showcasing different seed varieties and training smallholder horticulture farmers.
Through the partnership, she said the two organisations were eager to assist farmers to improve production capacity and grow the horticulture sector.
“Partnerships are very important as this helps to deliver quality products to farmers and provision of useful information through training. Together we can win as we work towards the same goal,” said Mrs Ndawi.
She said field days were important platforms for farmers to learn and commended Adra for its centre of excellence cold chain facility, which assists farmers to preserve their products to minimise post-harvest losses.
Umguza district coordinator Mr Tapiwa Zivoivoi said the partnership was unique.
“We have Adra, private sector, local authority and the church and this is what we are talking about when we talk about development,” said Mr Zivoivoi.
“Our council is also working on something to complement this whole programme because this will create employment as we work towards attainment of Vision 2030.” – @SikhulekelaniM1.
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