Arda business development managers boon for irriga...

Arda business development managers boon for irrigation schemes

Zim Now Writer

Farmers at irrigation schemes across the country are set to benefit from the Agricultural and rural Development Authority’s recent deployment of 220 business development managers.

The business development managers are expected to help with production training and the creation of business models for farmers.

The deployment was confirmed by Arda chairman Ivan Craig during a Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development strategic planning workshop for senior members of staff in the ministry in Gweru yesterday.

The workshop is aimed at boosting production as government steps up efforts to promote rural industrialisation.

Arda has 450 irrigation schemes across the country.

“To date, Arda has dispatched 220 business development managers in 220 irrigation schemes across the country. These business development managers will be working along with Agritex officers and the members of the irrigation schemes to improve operations. We are focusing on production and productivity,” said Craig.

He said Arda had dispatched 220 business development managers in 220 irrigation schemes across the country who will be working along with Agritex officers and the members of the irrigation schemes to improve operations, focusing on production and productivity.

“The whole idea of having these schemes is to capacitate them so that we transform peasant farming that is from hand-to-mouth into business. We want to transform them into a business where we are looking at a communal farmer and making them make a living out of irrigation schemes,” he said.

Craig added that they are also with the Agriculture Marketing Authority (to identify markets for crops from the irrigation schemes.