Paul Nyathi

STATE owned enterprise, Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) is targeting 500 000 metric tonnes of strategic grain reserves in the next three years to ensure national food security.

The effects of climate change which have led to successive drought have seen government mandating the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) to focus on strategic grain reserves to address the issue of low yields.

The authority’s new board Chairman, Mr Ivan Craig says maximum utilisation of land is ARDA’s main thrust in increasing food self-sufficiency.
“We shall do our best for the sake of the nation but the key thrust is to rebuild strategic grain reserves,” he said.

ARDA is also responsible for advancing farming production and rural development.

Its mandate is derived from the ARDA Act that seeks to promote development to reduce poverty.

Lands Agriculture Water and Rural Resettlement Minister Dr Anxious Masuka last week announced the appointment of agriculture expert and Zimbabwe Agriculture Society chairman Mr Ivan Craig as the new Agricultural Rural Development Authority(Arda) board chairperson while former CZI president Mr Sifelani Jabangwe is now the new COTTCO board chairperson.

Former Arda acting chairperson, Dr Johannes Makhadho has been transferred to be the deputy chairperson for the Agriculture Research Council.