Arda ropes in farmers, graduates
THE Agricultural Rural Development Authority is forging strategic relationships with A1, A2 and commercial farmers with idle irrigable land in order to enhance production of crops and livestock, Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa has said.
The remarks by Minister Chinamasa are contained in his report to the Zanu-PF National Consultative Assembly held in Harare recently.
He said the Arda pioneered programme would cover crops like maize, wheat, soyabeans as well as livestock production.
“All the crops would be grown under a Market-led Production Model and Arda (with its business partners) will buy and export the produce.
“Cereals will, however, be for the strategic grain reserve and/or value addition,” he said.
Minister Chinamasa said Arda was going to recruit and deploy qualified and competent graduates from local agricultural colleges and universities to the respective farms as part of the core management.
He said the programme was expected to benefit the country in a huge way.
“The programme has huge poten- tial benefits to the country as it helps to address challenges that continue to negatively affect agricultural productivity which include limited access to working capital, access to markets and technical skills,” he said.
Minister Chinamasa said the programme would ensure food security.
He indicated that so far 390 farmers have joined the programme covering 110 000 hectares of land.
Minister Chinamasa said a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services expected to unlock an additional 23 000 hectares of land.
“Resources mobilisation to fully implement the programme is currently underway. Negotiations are currently being held with potential investors with the guidance of the Office of the President and Cabinet, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development as well as the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe,” said Minister Chinamasa.