The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Lands and Agriculture has expressed strong support for the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) production model following a tour of wheat projects in Mashonaland Central, with members pledging to push for higher government allocations to expand the initiative nationwide.
During the visit, legislators inspected an ARDA-supported joint venture where wheat is being grown on roughly 200 hectares under irrigation. Mutoko South legislator Isaac Tasikani, a member of the committee, said the level of support provided by ARDA had made the project a standout success.
“The comprehensive support from ARDA has been key to what we are seeing here. When we return to Parliament, we will advocate for increased government support so that more farmers can access similar inputs and technical assistance,” Tasikani said.
The committee is touring ARDA farms across the country to assess wheat and maize yields against national production targets, evaluate ARDA’s contribution to the Strategic Grain Reserve, and examine measures to improve productivity. Tasikani said replicating the model would strengthen the grain reserve, boost export earnings, and create jobs for young people.
ARDA chief executive Tinotenda Mhiko told the committee that the authority plans to expand irrigation to 25,000 hectares across its estates by 2030, a move expected to raise productivity and improve climate resilience for strategic crops such as wheat and maize.
Shingirai Jenah, ARDA’s operations director for commercial production, said the joint venture model brings together large-scale farmers through the Strategic Grain Reserve 200+ Club, which targets farmers with at least 200 hectares of arable land.
The committee’s nationwide inspections are continuing as Zimbabwe intensifies efforts to achieve food self-sufficiency and build a climate-resilient agricultural sector.