Story by Kenias Chivuzhe
THE Government has recorded another milestone in its rural industrialisation drive with the completion of the Hauna Fruit and Vegetable Processing Plant in Honde Valley, a project expected to transform livelihoods through value addition and job creation.
The newly completed plant, which can process up to four tonnes of bananas per day into banana chips, marks a key step in promoting agro-industrial development under Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).
Farmers in the region have welcomed the development, noting that it will help curb post-harvest losses, boost income, and stabilise banana prices.
“We are excited that this processing plant has been completed. We are going to benefit as our bananas were fetching low prices on the market. We are going to value-add our bananas to generate more revenue,” a farmer said.
“The processing plant will improve our revenue generation capacity. We are witnessing rural industrialisation, which will reduce rural to urban migration through employment creation. We are witnessing the practical results of Vision 2030, where Zimbabwe aims to become an upper-middle-income economy,” another added.
The banana processing plant recently underwent a successful test run, signalling its readiness for full-scale operation, with the investments in rural value chains expected to accelerate rural development.
“We have done the test run, and the machine is operating well, and the chips are of good quality. We are hoping the President will come soon to commission the plant,” District Development Officer in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Shiela Mtetwa noted.
“As Mutasa, we are the nutrition hub of bananas and other fruits. This machine will reduce losses. Here, we have 13 wards that are into banana production. Most of them formed clusters to supply this plant to ensure a consistent supply,” District Agriculture Officer Christine Masvanhise added.
Special Advisor to the President Responsible for Monitoring Implementation of Government Programmes and Projects, Dr Joram Gumbo, who toured the facility this Wednesday, said the plant is testimony to the success of the Second Republic’s rural industrialisation agenda, aimed at uplifting rural communities.
“This processing plant will help to value-add bananas here in Honde Valley. This will result in better prices for produce by farmers. The plant has brought the markets closer and eliminated middlemen. This is great work by the government in partnership with the African Development Bank and the International Labour Organisation. This plant is expected to be commissioned soon. The government led by President Mnangagwa is promoting rural industrialisation and this is one significant initiative aimed at promoting local productivity.”
With banana production expected to increase in Honde Valley, the new processing plant is expected to become a game-changer in agro-processing, empowering thousands of households and positioning Manicaland as a critical player in Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector.
