ZIMBABWE has set its sights on transforming the agricultural sector to a US$13,75 billion industry by 2025.
The country had set a US$8,2 billion target for 2022, but reportedly reached US$7,9 billion in 2020, which necessitated a review to the target, government has indicated.
The government’s ambition, however, comes as the country is grappling with an El Niño-induced drought which has forced it to sent out an urgent appeal for US$2 billon to overcome the food insecurity situation threatening half of the country’s 16 million people.
Speaking at the Knowledge Management and Malabo Commitments Sensitisation and CAADP 4th Cycle Biennale Review Reports results dissemination workshop recently, Lands and Agriculture ministry secretary Obert Jiri said a comprehensive plan would be rolled out to build on the Zimbabwe Agriculture Investment Plan (ZAIP).
Under ZAIP, government formulated the Agriculture, Food, Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy (AFSRTS) in August 2020 to help to transform the agricultural sector through climate-smart agriculture, digital agriculture, irrigation development, value chain development, market access and social protection.
“AFSRTS sought to achieve a UDS$8,2 billion sector by 2025. The stellar performance in agriculture led to a US$7,9 billion sector by 2022, necessitating a review to achieve an ambitious, but attainable US$13,75 billion industry by 2025,” Jiri said.
“The country seeks to develop 350 000ha by 2030, dam construction projects to support irrigation, climate proofed crop production through Pfumvudza/Intwasa Presidential agricultural input support programme.”
Jiri called for the urgent adopting of climate smart production practices and the Malabo declaration targets, saying they were fundamental as greater parts of Africa face El Niño-induced drought, Zimbabwe included.
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The government through the Finance ministry has since admitted that it was caught unawares by the drought thereby necessitating a rearrangement of the year’s national budget to cover food imports and avert hunger.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared the drought a state of national disaster.
