Harare,  (New Ziana) — Zimbabwe has partnered with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) to craft an investment strategy aimed at driving growth and profitability in the agriculture sector, a senior government official has said.

Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary, Professor Obert Jiri said the initiative seeks to attract both domestic and foreign investment into key agricultural value chains.

“As we continue to develop our agricultural sector, we certainly need investments to be able to transform our agriculture into more of a business and a more profitable sector. We have been fortunate to partner with AGRA, an African organisation, which has helped us to develop an investment strategy and program we call the Zimbabwe Legacy Program,” he said.

The program will focus on seven value chains, including maize, dairy, beef and blueberries, which will be promoted to potential investors. Despite the challenges posed by climate change, Professor Jiri said the government is committed to expanding the capacity and productivity of the sector.

He said the investment pitch will be presented at the African Food Summit in Dakar, Senegal, during the first week of September, where six countries are expected to showcase their agricultural development plans.

“Zimbabwe is one of them and we have developed our plan, which we are validating, to ensure that our pitch is top-notch and positions us for a winning bid in Dakar,” he added.

Professor Jiri said the initiative goes beyond mere policy, but an ambitious roadmap that aims at changing the country’s landscape completely, enhancing investment as well as securing its food systems for future generations.

He said in the middle of the legacy program lies the commitment to establishing a framework that highlights investment opportunities in the agricultural sector through a detailed structured investment program.

New Ziana