Placing Horticulture at the Core of Zimbabwe’s Agricultural Renaissance

At the Annual Agribusiness Conference at the ongoing Zimbabwe Agriculture Show, Permanent Secretary Professor Dr. Obert Jiri spotlighted the need to transform Zimbabwe’s horticulture sector, positioning it not merely as a subsector of agriculture but as a critical pillar of the national economy and a vital lifeline for rural communities. With nearly 60 percent of the population residing in rural areas and heavily reliant on subsistence farming, he underscored the urgency of a paradigm shift that unlocks the immense potential of horticulture to drive inclusive growth.

He highlighted horticulture as a force capable of lifting millions out of poverty by anchoring rural industrialization, stimulating value addition, and accelerating rural development. Central to this vision is government’s bold push for an irrigation-led agricultural revolution, designed to free the sector from the unpredictability of rainfall and to secure consistent productivity, he stressed. Professor Dr. Jiri stated that rainfed farming can no longer sustain the ambitions of a modern horticulture industry, particularly as Zimbabwe targets the establishment of a USD 2 billion horticulture economy.

To achieve this, he called for an expansion of irrigated horticultural land from the current 10,000–15,000 hectares to at least 35,000 hectares under the Vision 2030 Accelerator Model’s Village Business Units, a move with the potential to triple productivity and transform the fortunes of smallholder farmers.

Food Security: Everywhere, Everyday
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