eBusiness Weekly
Michael Magoronga
Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) are critical in unlocking Zimbabwe’s agriculture value chain potential and attaining food security, Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (Arda), board chairperson Basil Nyabadza has said.
Speaking at the recent inaugural field lecture at Arda Fair Acres in Zhombe, Nyabadza said private players should come on board and compliment Government efforts to enhance agriculture sector productivity.
“The heart of the matter is founded in PPPs given we already have the resources in human capital and infrastructure among others. Partnerships play a key role as Government and the private sector complement each other and that goes a long way in improving not only the agriculture sector, but the economy as a whole,” said Nyabadza.
“We should reach a point where we stand alone as provinces and attain value addition, which in turn fosters cost-cutting measures. We are talking of about 90 percent of wheat in the Midlands province coming from Zhombe.
“We then should have a partner who comes up with a bakery instead of taking the wheat to Harare and then have it come back as bread. We should be able to do everything in the province.”
Nyabadza said plans were already at advanced stages to establish value addition centres across the country, with the first one set for Arda Balu Estate in Umguza District, Matabeleland North province.
“As we speak, we look forward to establishing a 10 000 hectare command plantation growing in a partnership where we will grow pecans, guavas, mangoes, bananas, citrus and so on. Instead of taking those fruits to the processing centre in Norton, we want to establish a centre on sight,” he said.
Speaking at the same occasion, Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister, Senator Larry Mavima said students have a role to play in the economic devolution process as envisaged by President Mnangagwa’s Government.
“Each province should analyse and utilise its Intellectual Capacity, which ought to take a leading role in order to accelerate development. Thus, the academia must proffer practical solutions to current economic issues. As a province we are blessed to have MSU who are here today and we challenge the students and lecturers to come up with solutions to our economic challenges,” said Sen Mavima.
The inaugural field lecture was the first out of eight lectures that are lined up across the country. The lecture, which brought together political leadership, MSU students, lecturers and farmers, sought to seek solutions as to what the academia can proffer as solution to the agriculture sector. Arda Fair Acres is a partnership between Government and Northern Farmers who specialise in wheat, soya beans and maize farming.
