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Agriculture Reporter

THE Government has initiated various programmes to ensure farmers adopt a business approach to their farming activities in a manner that helps boost production and profitability of the sector, as the country journeys towards attaining an upper middle income economy by 2030.

In a twitter post, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development permanent secretary Dr John Basera challenged farmers to move from the tradition of accumulating vast tracts of land to intensive production on small pieces of land.

“Commercial farming does not necessarily entail land size, it is all about the ‘Scope’, Productivity and Profitability. It’s about producing more on less (land) and more from less other resources – intensification,” he said.

The Government is urging partnerships to enhance agri-business in a move that will help boost agriculture production in pursuant of attaining an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.

“These arrangements will promote production and maximum land use while giving a platform for the farmers to enjoy good profits from their operations,” said Dr Basera.

More so, the Government is urging participation in the critical aspects of the agriculture value chain, a move that is vital in addressing the various problems that haunt everyday food production and marketing.

“Let us take farming as a business and this ultimately entails a healthy, positive return on investment,” said Dr Basera.

He urged farmers to take advantage of the permitting environment created by the Government in empowering small-scale farmers for increased production output.

“This is the hallmark of transitioning from subsistence farming to farming for surplus and commerce and underpins the agricultural transformation we all want,” said Dr Basera.

The Government is set to enforce the mandatory filling in of production and productivity forms by all A1 and A2 farmers.

“Data from these production and productivity return forms will be analysed to inform Government programming as the forms are critical in enhancing decision making in the sector,” said Dr Basera.

The Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Dr Anxious Masuka recently challenged farmers to maximise production on their respective farms in an effort to attain food, feed and seed security for the nation in line with developing the economy into an upper middle income by 2030.

Sixty-one 61 percent of Zimbabwe’s population amounting to 9, 2 million people survive on subsistence farming. Therefore, it is key for the farmers to ensure maximum production as the Government moves to ensure the country achieves food security amid climate and global supply chain disruptions.

The Government is working to ensure that a sustainable business environment is created through legislative amendments so farmers can be able to sell and benefit from their produce.