By Darlington Mutsvairi
Government announced yesterday the adoption of a Horticulture Recovery Plan that requires US$1 billion from the private sector and partners and the Presidential Horticulture Scheme estimated to cost almost US$187 million following its approval by cabinet as part of the Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Strategy (2020-2025).
Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement, Dr Anxious Masuka presented the plan before the cabinet resulting in its unanimous adoption.
During a post-Cabinet media briefing, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa indicated that the plan was received and instantly ratified.
“Cabinet received and approved the Horticulture Recovery Plan, which the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement presented,” she said.
Minister Mutsvangwa further indicated that the plan is an operation instrument and food systems transformation strategy whose thrust is to improve the agriculture sector’s contribution to the GDP to about 20 percent by year 2025.
“Cabinet was informed that the Horticulture Recovery and Growth Plan is an implementation mechanism for the Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Strategy (2020-2025).
The Plans are all aimed at transforming agriculture from a US$5,2 billion to a US$8,2 billion sector, contributing 20 per cent of GDP by 2025 in line with the vision of making Zimbabwe an upper middle-income country by 2030,” she highlighted.
The plan accents on private sector-driven recovery of the conventional horticulture sub-sector and a vigorous, comprehensive and viable as well as transformative rural horticulture sub-sector which need about US$1 047 719 284 and US$186 920 000 respectively.
“The Horticulture Recovery and Growth Plan focuses on two broad and mutually reinforcing areas, namely: a private sector-driven recovery of the conventional horticulture sub-sector; and a robust, inclusive and sustainable and transformative rural horticulture sub-sector.
While the conventional Horticulture Recovery Plan will require US$1 047 719 284 from the private sector and partners, the Presidential Horticulture Scheme will cost US$186 920 000 and cover 1,8 million rural households,” further said Minister Mutsvangwa.
The Minister briefly hinted on how the plan will be run as she said that there will be a Horticulture Development Council (HDC) made up of horticulture commodity associations essential in the production and marketing of the respective commodities; and a Presidential Horticulture Scheme which will be co-ordinated by an inter-ministerial Task Force and both will fall under the National Horticulture Working Group (NHWG).
