LEX-FAOC068640

The Comprehensive Agricultural Policy Framework is a multi-sectoral policy that gives the situation analysis of the agricultural sector, highlights the vision, goals, objectives and detailed policy statements and strategies for the development of the Zimbabwean agricultural sector during the period 2012-2032. The vision of the agriculture sector is a prosperous, diverse and competitive agriculture sector, ensuring food and nutrition security significantly contributing to national development.; In line with this vision, the specific objectives of the agricultural sector policy are to: (i) assure national and household food and nutrition security; (ii) ensure that the existing agricultural resource base is maintained and improved; (iii) generate income and employment to feasible optimum levels, (iv) increase agriculture’s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP); (v) contribute to sustainable industrial development through the provision of home-grown agricultural raw material; and (vi) expand significantly the sector's contribution to the national balance of payments.; This policy addresses issues concerning crop and livestock production, marketing and trade. In order to make agriculture more productive and sustainable, the Government plans to increase crop productivity and production through the following strategies: (i) set up an agriculture fund to subsidize inputs; (ii) promote, in collaboration with seed companies and international and national research organizations, research into the development of high yielding and drought tolerant crop varieties; (iii) promote research into integrated crop management practices; (iv) promote sustainable agricultural production including conservation agriculture techniques; (v) promote greater adoption and use of improved hybrid seed varieties for different crops; (vi) promote the construction of cost-effective storage technologies by all classes of farmers and increasing crop diversification; (vii) improve animal health and welfare; (viii) develop new irrigation infrastructures and resourcing agricultural research.; Regarding the reduction of rural poverty, the government plans to improve farm income and agricultural production. A well targeted input support programme will be implemented in order to increase access to fertilizers and seed for staple crop production. Specific support to smallholder farmers is envisaged too.; To enable inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems, the Government intends to make sure that well developed and functional agricultural marketing infrastructures are in place. Measures are envisaed to: (i) promote the development of capacities in data collection, analysis, storage and dissemination of market information to farmer organisations, groups and cooperative societies and other market players, (ii) strengthen public-private sector partnerships to undertake market research and participate in information systems; (iii) facilitate registration of all agriculture market participants; (iv) facilitate the design of contracts between producers and buyers. In addition, the Government plans to mainstream gender in agriculture by implementing the following strategies: (i) in consultation with relevant women’s organisations, identify barriers to entry by women into agribusiness and enhance their participation removal of the barriers through policy, government incentive and training; (ii) identify resources for investment, credit, partnership mechanism that will enhance women participation in the sector; (iii) review existing and potential financing arrangements and mechanisms for women economic empowerment in the agricultural sector; (iv) develop resources mobilization strategy for women economic empowerment in the agricultural sector.; To operationalize this policy framework, the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development will guide the sector in the development of specific, achievable and targeted agriculture sub-sectoral policy strategies underpinned by the objectives and statements provided in this document.