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Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter
There is considerable progress in the implementation of Government’s economic blueprint, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation despite the challenges affecting the economy, Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa said yesterday.

Presenting a progress report on the implementation of Zim Asset at the ongoing Zanu PF 6th National People’s Congress, Cde Chinamasa said most sectors had recorded varying levels of growth this year.

“It is clear that notwithstanding the many challenges which continue to confront Government and the people of Zimbabwe, considerable progress has indeed been made in the implementation of the Zim Asset economic development blueprint.

“The Zim Asset Prioritised Action Plan for 2015 has been developed and will form the basis upon which to further accelerate the implementation of the Plan over the coming 12 – month period,” he said.

Cde Chinamasa said crop production improved in 2014 due to Government’s input support to small holder farmers and good rains.

The country produced 1 680 293 metric tonnes of cereals and 996 424 metric tonnes of other food crops like groundnuts, beans and potatoes.

Cde Chinamasa said wheat production was expected to increase from 41 000 metric tonnes to 58 598 metric tonnes while tobacco production rose by 30 percent from 166 million kilogrammes in 2013 to 216,1 million kilogrammes this year.

“The National Cattle Herd registered a 2,3 percent increase from 5 241 192 to 5 368 105 for the 2013/2014 agricultural season, while beef slaughters declined by 7 percent,” he said.

He added that a new cattle breeding and semen producing laboratory was established.

On poultry, the minister said a 38 percent increase was registered in day old chicks production from the 64,4 million chicks produced last year resulting in an increase of 400 000 tonnes in poultry meat products.