Story by Theophilus Chuma
ZIMBABWE’S tobacco exports have surged by more than 60 percent since the opening of the marketing season in March, generating US$550 million and signalling strong momentum in the country’s agricultural sector.
The strong performance comes as the country’s agricultural sector is poised for another promising season, with a positive grain outlook projecting at least 2,8 million metric tonnes from crops such as maize, sorghum, pearl millet and finger millet.
This was outlined by the Minister of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services, Dr Zhemu Soda during a Post Cabinet Media Briefing held in Harare this Tuesday.
Providing an update on winter cropping, Dr Soda said Government is targeting to plant 140 500 hectares under the Winter Cereals Plan, with an estimated output of 956 350 metric tonnes.
“The Winter wheat proposed target is 125 000 hectares to produce an estimated 662 500 metric tonnes of winter crops. The target for barley remains 6 500 hectares while Irish potato is 9000 hectares for an estimated total production of 243 850 metric tonnes,” he stated.
Pertaining to tobacco, Dr Soda said at least 150 million kilogrammes of the crop has so far been sold, with export receipts hitting US$550 million.
This strong performance reflects an exponential growth of 66 percent compared to the same period last year.
Government has also approved the National Wildlife Policy. The new legislative framework seeks to align with emerging national, regional and international best practises to promote more sustainable harnessing of the vast opportunities existing in the wildlife sector.
“Government notes that the wildlife sector has been remarkably transformed since the enactment of the current Policy in 1992, in view of the need for sustainable and innovative wildlife management and policy initiatives. The New Wildlife Policy, therefore, seeks to align with emerging national, regional and international best practices, in order to promote more sustainable harnessing of the vast opportunities existing in the wildlife sector,” Minister Soda said.
“The new Wildlife Policy aims to strengthen the contribution of the wildlife sector to national development through sustainable use of wildlife resources, and to enhance active community participation and thereby socio-economic benefits for present and future generations. The policy will enhance resilience to climate change and promote a vibrant wildlife-anchored economy in line with the broader Zimbabwe Biodiversity Economy Initiative under the National Development Strategy 2 and the Constitution of Zimbabwe.”
The policy also introduces measures to address human-wildlife conflict, including the establishment of a Human-Wildlife Conflict Relief Fund to assist affected communities.
“The new Policy fundamentally recognises wildlife as a public resource and, therefore, aims to promote access to and equitable sharing of benefits; to support devolution; to harness public-private partnership in natural resources development; and to promote sustainable transboundary conservation and ethical conservation practices, among others. The Policy provides for various wildlife management mechanisms, including new regulations for CAMPFIRE, and will address human-wildlife conflict and implement the approved Human -Wildlife Conflict Relief Fund for the benefit of victims.”
Other key highlights outlined during this Tuesday’s cabinet session include a progress report on key projects stretching from infrastructure, road rehabilitation and dam construction.
