Theseus Mauruki Shambare in MUTOKO
GOVERNMENT and United Nations agencies are stepping up efforts to transform smallholder farming from largely subsistence production into commercially viable enterprises, with organised farmer groups, business skills, financing and stronger market linkages expected to drive the transition.
The push was highlighted during World Food Day commemorations held at Chitora Irrigation Scheme in Mutoko on Saturday, which were organised by the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development in partnership with three Rome-based United Nations agencies — the World Food Programme (WFP), the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
Held under the theme, “Innovate Today, Nourish Tomorrow”, the commemorations brought together Government and development partners to discuss ways of strengthening food systems, improving smallholder productivity and expanding farmers’ participation in commercial agriculture.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri said the experience at Chitora Irrigation Scheme demonstrated how farmers could organise their production around market requirements.
“Farmers at the scheme are already coordinating their cropping activities and apportioning production according to what buyers needed, showing the importance of collective planning in commercial agriculture.
“It is clear that our message of turning farming into business is manifesting. This is what the Government is looking for, industrialisation of rural communities,” he said.
World Food Programme (WFP) Country Director Ms Barbara Clemens said development partners needed to move away from fragmented interventions and work together to strengthen rural economies.
“We want to play a convening role, bringing partners together so that we are not having siloed projects,” she said.
Ms Clemens said greater private-sector participation was also necessary to create sustainable business opportunities in farming communities and ensure farmers benefit from more developed agricultural value chains.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation’s Sub-Regional Coordinator for Southern Africa and Country Representative in Zimbabwe Dr Patrice Talla Takoukam said innovation was essential to increasing agricultural productivity and diversifying food production as climate change and population growth put pressure on food systems.
“We cannot continue expanding agricultural land. We need to increase production and productivity while protecting the environment,” he said.
The International Fund for Agricultural Development is supporting the transition through its Smallholder Agriculture Cluster Project, a six-year programme targeting 78 000 farmers in 18 districts.
Project National Coordinator Mr Alex Nyakatsamba said the programme was equipping farmers with the skills needed to operate as organised agricultural businesses.
“We are organising farmers into agricultural producer groups so that they can collectively access input and output markets,” he said.
The project, funded by Government with support from IFAD and OPEC, provides business development and financial literacy training, loans and grants, while rehabilitating irrigation infrastructure and linking farmers with private-sector buyers.
At Chitora, three producer groups have benefited from project support, including financing and equipment to improve irrigation capacity.
The wider objective is to build a smallholder farming sector that can produce competitively, access reliable markets and generate sustainable incomes while contributing to national food and nutrition security.
