AGRICULTURE minister Anxious Masuka says the government has transitioned the management of 287 out of a total of 450 irrigation schemes to the state-owned Agricultural Rural Development Authority (ARDA).
According to Masuka, this is being done to overhaul their governance systems, and ensure that they are run as viable businesses.
He said agricultural development should lead to rural industrialisation.
“This is the context in which the 450 irrigation schemes are being transformed… this is why ARDA is now the designated business manager for these schemes.
“This is the new ARDA – transformed to deliver rural development. I am informed that already, 287 of the 450 irrigation schemes have been transitioned to ARDA management and that many of these have become viable businesses again,” Masuka said in Masvingo last week.
Subscribe to The Financial Gazette
This is premium content. Subscribe to read article.