Story by Peter Chivhima
The Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) has pledged to continue enhancing the country’s food security through resuscitation of its projects nationally.
The Second Republic has since inception sought ways of reducing food insecurity across the country and to achieve this target, Government is working with various stakeholders including ARDA and the private sector.
In an interview with the ZBC News this Sunday, ARDA board chairperson, Mr Ivan Craig outlined that the institution has made significant progress in reviving its projects nationally and this will support government initiatives of ensuring that the nation has enough to put on the table.
“We are opening more land under our estates so that we increase hectarage under centre pivot so that we produce more grain for strategic grain reserves in the country. You will find out that we have many projects, some of them are at 99 percent completion, like the one in Bulawayo,” he said.
He added that they remain on alert to respond to climate related phenomena such as the El Nino induced drought which the country is currently experiencing.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank our President, Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa for availing inputs for our irrigation schemes where we are managing about 390 schemes with the aim of producing more grains for our strategic grain reserves.”
Distribution of Pfumvudza/ Intwasa inputs and the Presidential Borehole Drilling Programme along with improved power supplies in farming areas to save crops under irrigation are some of the initiatives being rolled out by government to ensure food security.
