The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation has recommended stimulating the private agri sector in Manicaland as the region clearly showcases harbours unexploited potential.
Speaking during his maiden tour of the agricultural projects undertaken in Mutasa district, FAO sub-regional coordinator for Southern Africa dr Patrick Kormawa said a lot must be done to bring in new technologies to increase productivity and expand market reach. "The province as a whole harbours huge potential that is yet to be exploited. The farmers are knowledgeable in what they are doing and producing, but we have had instances where the farmers have claimed that the private sector is not reacting well to the uptake of their produce," he said.
Dr Kormawa said the lack of consistency in quality produce was one the shortfalls in the attainment of private markets and that there was need for farmers to be equipped with entrepreneurial skills.
Finally, according to allafrica.com, dr Kormawa also mentioned capacity building in entrepreneurial skills in farmers as key in the advancement of agro-businesses within the district stating that merely funding projects was inadequate for they promoted sustainable agro-processes.
