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President Mugabe

Speech by His Excellency the President, Comrade R.G. Mugabe at the Official opening of the 107th Edition of the Harare Agricultural Show, Harare, 25th August, 2017.

The Honourable Vice President, Comrade Phelekezela Mphoko and Mai Mphoko;

The Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development, Honourable Joseph Made;

The president of the Senate, Honourable Amai Edna Madzongwe;

The Speaker of the National Assembly, Honourable Advocate Jacob Mudenda,

Ministers here present, Members of Parliament, The Chief Justice, Honourable Luke Malaba,

The President of the Zimbabwe Agricultural Society, Mr Ngoni Kudenga,

Your Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic Corps,

Service Chiefs,

All Exhibitors from our neighbouring countries and from Zimbabwe,

Ladies and Gentlemen, Comrades and Friends.

I welcome you all to the 107th Edition of the Harare Agricultural Show, which comes against a background of a most successful agricultural season which has witnessed, for the first time in many years, Zimbabwe’s ascendance to food security status.

With each Show, the transformative impact of the far-reaching Agricultural reforms we have implemented over the last decade or so, becomes more and more evident.

When we have had a good rainy season like the one we have just had, the results of our Land Reform Programme become more evident, and that exposes the false propaganda of our detractors.

Last year, my Government intervened proactively to stimulate agricultural production, with the accent on ensuring food security.

Government employed Command Agriculture, as its latest strategy to achieve economic growth.

The Command Agriculture entails providing farmers with the requisite resources and technical skills to optimally produce specific crops.

During the 2016 agricultural season, which was a maize Command Agricultural Season, farmers were given farm machinery and implements, maize seed, fuel, fertilisers and had technical expertise extended to them.

As a result of this strategy, Zimbabwe is expecting a bumper harvest in excess of two million metric tonnes of maize.

Deliveries are in progress as we speak.

This year, the programme has been extended to wheat and cattle production. The goal is to progressively roll it out to encompass other aspects of agriculture.

I want to thank all stakeholders for this achievement and at the same time urge you to ensure that this food security status is maintained.

I understand that last year you also had a very successful 5th Annual National Agribusiness Conference which focused on reviewing the successful Presidential Inputs Programme, Command Agriculture and Private Sector Initiatives.

Similarly, may I also underscore the need for increased collaboration by stakeholders to ensure that agricultural production and productivity are enhanced and sustained.

I understand you have introduced an “Eleven Tonne Plus” Club in which you are promoting maize productivity.

It is through increased productivity that we will be able to ensure food security for our growing population.

As I visited the stands today, I was happy to note that the number and quality of exhibitions at this show is certainly above all shows of previous years.

The diversity of these presentations is also testimony to the increasing importance attached by exhibitors to this national annual event.

Add to that, over 250 000 people are expected to pass through the gates of the Harare Agricultural Show this year, which is highly commendable.

In reviewing the agricultural season, it must be realised that the rearing of our cattle, sheep and goats, pigs, poultry, fish and other stock, is in dire need of improvement.

It is absolutely necessary that all stakeholders work together to revitalise this sector.

Since the Command Agriculture Programme now includes Command Livestock, I urge all stakeholders to take full advantage of the programme, in order to further improve the livestock aspect of the agriculture sector.

This year, while maize production has increased by over 280 percent, cotton production also increased almost five fold.

Thanks for the support that has been rendered by my Government to these enterprises.

However, more still needs to be done with respect to soya bean production, small grains, horticulture and fruits.

I urge inputs suppliers, from seed, fertiliser and agro-chemicals providers to work closely with farmers so that we continue to make the land reform a resounding success.

Financial institutions should also come on board to provide sufficiently tenured capital, of lower interest rates, to enable both seasonal farming activities and capital investment to be undertaken.

I also note that the mining sector is well represented at this show, and that for the first time the bigger mining houses themselves have come to display their whole value chain, and the ecosystem in which they operate.

We warmly welcome more companies to take advantage of this show which has recently been broadened to accommodate them.

I applaud all of you for this show of unity of purpose in organising this year’s event and wish you, therefore, a most successful and productive show.

I now declare this 107th Harare Agricultural Show officially opened.

Tatenda

Siyabonga

I thank you.