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Precious Manomano, Herald Reporter

Four-hundred-and-sixty rural irrigation schemes will be transformed into viable and self-sufficient business units to promote production and profitability for communal irrigation schemes countrywide.

The upgrade was announced by the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion in its 2025 Budget strategy paper.

Under the scheme, the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) will provide technical expertise in the form of competent business managers to transform the schemes into viable commercial enterprises and reduce dependence on the fiscus.

Rural development and transformation would be promoted through the establishment of the planned 35 000 village business units in 35 000 villages, 4 800 youth business units and 9 600 school business units, which could all generate income for households to improve livelihoods.

These have proved to be a game-changer for benefiting rural communities, whose lives are being transformed in terms of food security, employment creation and enhanced income generation.

Emphasis will be on ensuring that economic activities generate income and eliminate poverty within rural communities.

Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri said the Government had made great strides in ensuring that food security was attained.

He said several initiatives had been implemented, including irrigation development, dam construction, borehole drilling and Pfumvudza/Intwasa.

“Agriculture development should promote rural industrialisation which will facilitate the attainment of Vision 2030. Agricultural development will foster growth and development of the country,” Prof Jiri said.

Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector has the potential to improve rural communities through income generation, employment opportunities and improving food security.

The country has become food secure since the advent of the Second Republic through a robust agriculture, foods systems and rural transformation strategy with surplus cereals in all, but the worst of drought years.

The Presidential Rural Development Programme is part of the Government’s Rural Development 8.0 initiative whose other components include the Vision 2030 Accelerator Model, Pfumvudza/Intwasa, Presidential Poultry Scheme, the Presidential Goat Scheme, Presidential Fisheries Scheme, Presidential Blitz Tick Grease Scheme and the Presidential Cotton Inputs Scheme.

A recent visit by The Herald to two village business units in Zunde B and Camperdown in Mt Darwin, Mashonaland Central Province, revealed that the empowerment programmes spearheaded by the Government were helping to alleviate hunger and create employment opportunities.

Villagers said they were benefiting from the programme and the majority are earning a decent living.

Mr Staford Kabaira of Zunde D said livelihoods have improved and communities could sustain themselves.

He said rural industrialisation had helped communities to fight hunger.