By Tichaona Kurewa
THE Second Republic’s Horticulture Recovery Plan is on track, with the Agriculture Marketing Authority (AMA) and an association of hoteliers having mobilised farmers around Victoria Falls to grow relevant horticulture produce and supply to a ready market in the resort city.
With farmers having regularly struggled to find a market for their produce, the Agriculture Marketing Authority has now moved in to empower farmers produce relevant horticulture produce in consultation with hotels.
“We are telling farmers that they should only grow those crops that have been approved by the market. Victoria Falls has several hotels and lodges as a result, we are working with these hotels to advise people on what to grow and they buy the produce.
“People should only grow those crops they have been assigned to grow. Hotels and lodges need bulk products hence we are also bringing farmers together under Victoria Falls Growers Association so they pull their produce together and meet the requirements of the market,” said Memory Sibanda, AMA Board Member.
Already, there are various thriving horticulture gardens around Victoria Falls and the farmers are appreciative of the initiative by AMA.
The Horticulture Recovery Plan is part of the Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Strategy meant to transform agriculture from a US$5.2 billion to a US$8.2 billion sector and contributing 20 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2025 in line with the vision of an uppermiddle-income society by 2030
