Story by Owen Mandovha, Business Reporter
Zimbabwe’s strengthening agricultural value chain was on full display when President Emmerson Mnangagwa was joined by his Mozambican counterpart, His Excellency Felipe Nyusi in touring exhibition stands at this year’s edition of the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show.
The two Presidents were impressed by the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA), which is helping to revive the sector, especially wheat production, while the Tobacco Research Board (TRB) is establishing sustainable tobacco production by expanding research into new tobacco varieties.
The private sector also enthused the two Heads of State with Seedco showcasing its capacity to grow the national seed bank, while different cattle breeds caught their attention when they toured pens of special breeds helping to harness the Livestock Growth Plan.
Also attracting significant interest from the leaders was the mining industry, which has grown significantly over the last five years, with exports now topping over six billion United States dollars annually.
The Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company and platinum miner, Zimplats have made huge investments in agriculture, especially livestock and poultry production, and after the tour, President Nyusi said Zimbabwe’s agriculture industry is on a strong path of growth, which is also benefitting his country.
“I’m very much impressed by what I saw at this show in terms of the state of Zimbabwe’s agriculture industry. It is indeed on a positive trajectory, and we, as Mozambique, are hosting the Maputo International Trade Fair where some Zimbabwean companies are exhibiting, and we are glad that these are also exporting into Mozambique,” said President Nyusi.
President Mnangagwa underscored how the two governments can achieve food security by working together.
“Our goal is to ensure that we all achieve food security as the two countries and we are together to ensure that that is achieved,” he noted.
President Nyusi went on to officially open this year’s edition of the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show.
