Zimpapers hosts horticulture conference

Ashton Mutyavaviri

INTEGRATED media house Zimbabwe Newspapers (1980) Limited, in partnership with Horticulture Development Council (HDC) and Nedbank, is hosting a two-day smallholder horticulture farmers’ conference starting today at Manica Skyview Hotel in Mutare.

The aim of the conference is to integrate horticulture crops into high value export crops through the HDC Hub and Spoke Business Model. It is specifically for farmers who are into macadamia, coffee, avocados and bananas.

Running under the theme: “Fostering Collaborative Partnerships and Sustainable Farming Practices to Achieve Food Security and Economic Prosperity in Alignment with SDG 2, NDS1 and the HRGP,” the meeting will bring together policy makers, value chain and other key stakeholders including farmer representatives to come up with shared interest for unlocking the potential in the horticulture production.

Minister of State for Provincial and Devolution Affairs for Manicaland province Misheck Mugadza will be the guest of honour.

Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development and Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Ministries will also participate.

The Herald’s Agriculture Editor, Obert Chifamba who is also part of the team that organised the event ,said their choice of Manicaland was not coincidental.

“Manicaland was selected to host the event due to its reputation as the epicentre of horticulture production with macadamia, tea, coffee, bananas, avocados and flowers. As part of its contribution to the development of the country’s agro-based economy, Zimpapers realised it had to play a part in trying to level the playing field for smallholder horticulture farmers who are facing challenges such as lack of markets, finance and resources, limited value addition, post-harvest loses and unsustainable production practices.

“The conference will seek to allow dialogue that will open up opportunities for the farmers to beat poverty, end food insecurity and become economically sound in line with SDG2 and the NDS1 that target to end hunger and leave citizens food and economically secure,” said Chifamba.