National Agriculture Policy Framework (2019-2030).

This National Agriculture Policy Framework (or NAPF) for the period from the year 2019 until the year 2030 sets the overall objective which is to provide policy guidance and direction on how to promote and support the sustainable flow of local and external investment and resources necessary to transform the agricultural sector through increased and sustained agricultural production, productivity and competitiveness. The NAPF provides a relevant and evidence-based framework to guide and coordinate the development of sector-specific strategies that will provide more details, priorities, implementing means and enforcement mechanisms. In particular, the framework identifies key challenges constraining agricultural performance, defines objectives, strategic initiatives, and development results/outcomes for the agricultural sector as well as articulates a roadmap to strengthen the agricultural sector. The Government of Zimbabwe recognizes that agriculture is one of the key priority sectors in achieving sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction. However, frequent droughts plus limited resilience, inadequate resource allocation to key drivers of agriculture growth and sometimes inconsistent and ad hoc policy actions associated with the agricultural sector have made it impossible to achieve the stated goals.
Challenges facing the Zimbabwe s agricultural sector require a policy framework that is not business as usual , but one that holistically addresses key facets of the agriculture sector starting with agricultural production and productivity to ensure food and nutrition security and resilience. In addition, agriculture knowledge, technology and innovation systems; agricultural infrastructure; agro-processing and value addition; agricultural marketing and trade; agricultural finance and credit; land administration; and secure land rights form the key pillars of the NAPF. The overall goal of the NAPF is to create a stable enabling environment and flow of investment that sustainably enhances the capacity of the agricultural sector to anchor national economic growth to upper middle income status by 2030. Vision here stated is: A prosperous, sustainable, resilient, diverse and competitive agriculture sector, ensuring food and nutrition security and significantly contributing to national development in the context of sustainable structural transformation . Main Policy Objectives are listed as follows: 1. Assure national and household food and nutrition security in a sustainable and resilient manner; 2. Ensure that the existing agricultural resource base is restored, maintained and improved to achieve sustainable agricultural intensification; 3. Generate income and decent employment to feasible optimum levels, with a special focus on women and youth; 4. Increase agriculture s contribution to the nation s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through productivity improvements in crop, livestock, forests and fisheries sectors; 5. Contribute to sustainable industrial development through the provision of competitively home-grown agricultural raw materials; 6. Improve agricultural market access, exports, value addition and competitiveness and sustainable funding mechanisms; 7. Promote conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources important for food and agriculture ; and 8. Improve multi-stakeholder cooperation and exchange among government arms, private sector, farmer-owned institutions, civil society organisations and development partners.
This text identifies nine different pillars (among related specific strategic objectives). These pillars are listed as follows: Ensure food and nutrition security for all through sustainable agricultural intensification, dietary diversification, improved access to land, finance and markets and other resilience building measures; Increase investment in agricultural research and development, technology and extension systems and adoption of climate- and business-smart technology and innovation; Increase the safe, sustainable and precise utilization of productivity-enhancing agricultural inputs; Develop effective and efficient domestic, regional and international agricultural markets; To improve access, availability and appropriateness of agricultural financing; Promote equitable and secure land tenure and rights; Improve farmer resilience, increase productivity through mitigation and adaptation to climate shocks, and sustainability of agriculture and food systems; and To facilitate a participatory and inclusive policy implementation engagement of all the relevant actors in the agricultural sector, hence ensuring a shared ownership of the process and outcomes.