The government of Zimbabwe has launched an ambitious plan to revolutionise rural agriculture. If successful, it could see remote areas of the nation being transformed into exotic fruit production hubs.
Under the plan, each family will receive 10 saplings of apple, granadilla, pecan nuts, apple, guava, mango, lemon, avocado pears and macadamia trees.
Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa said Cabinet considered and approved the Report on the State of Preparedness for the 2021-2022 Agricultural Season. “The nation is advised that the 2021-2022 season will witness the operationalisation of the Rural Presidential Horticulture Plan,” Mustangwa said.
“The plan will target priority fruit trees, namely: passion fruit (Granadilla), pecan nuts, apple, guava, mango, lemon, avocado pears and macadamia. Each targeted household will be given 10 trees of each fruit variety, depending on suitability of the fruit tree to the agro-ecological regions and potential income to be generated. The first phase running to December 2021 has a target of 500 000 seedlings.”
According to newzimbabwe.com, the programme could result in 1.8 million rural households benefiting by 2023.