Zimbabwe: Arda eyes 25pc increase in maize hectarage

Source: Arda eyes 25pc increase in maize hectarage | The Sunday Mail Business Reporter THE Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) is increasing the hectarage under grain by 25 percent to nearly 100 000 hectares (ha) this summer cropping season, as the parastatal moves to fulfil part of its strategic mandate of ensuring national food security. The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development estimates that putting 100 000ha under maize has the potential to yield at least 350 000 tonnes of grain. As part of its mandate, ARDA produces maize from its vast estates dotted across the country, equipped with irrigation facilities, as well as through joint venture initiatives with individual farmers or the private sector. The authority owns 21 estates across Zimbabwe with about 98 000ha of arable land, of which 19 000ha have irrigable capacity. Before the advent of the Second Republic, most of ARDA’s farming estates were idle or underutilised following ...