The Presidential Horticulture Scheme Needs Village Players

By Dr Last Mazambani

The Presidential Horticulture Scheme, launched as a key component of Zimbabwe’s broader rural transformation strategy, is one of the most promising government interventions in recent years. It offers not just food and income security, but a pathway toward a truly diversified and resilient rural economy. Yet for it to fully realise its potential, the scheme must go beyond seedling distributions and address the real engines of sustainability — village-level infrastructure, local skills development, and inter-agency coordination.

At the core of the scheme lies a noble and visionary idea: empower households, especially those in rural and peri-urban communities, to grow fruit trees that can support nutrition, incomes, climate resilience, and long-term food sovereignty. However, a program of this scale and ambition must also recognize that success is rooted in local ownership, not just national coordination. It is time to bring in the village players — the unsung community champions, cooperatives, rural youth, and local institutions who will sustain this horticultural revolution beyond the lifespan of political cycles.

Beyond Distribution: A Culture of Cultivation

Currently, the government aims to distribute fruit trees to rural households, with targets set in the tens of millions. This is commendable, but tree planting is not an end in itself. What happens after the trees are delivered? Who nurtures them? Who replaces those lost to drought, pests, or neglect? Who imparts the knowledge needed to graft, prune, or irrigate?

To ensure that trees bear fruit — literally and economically — the program should aim higher. A goal of 100 fruit trees per rural household is not only feasible over time, it could be transformational. That kind of density would allow families to become producers, not just consumers, of high-value horticultural crops such as guava, avocado, mango, citrus, and macadamia.

Rural Nurseries: Anchors of Continuity

To achieve this, the establishment of rural-based plant nurseries is a must. These nurseries can be locally managed — by community groups, rural schools, or youth cooperatives — and should serve as knowledge hubs as well as sources of plant material. When communities are given the tools and training to propagate their own fruit trees, they gain self-reliance and ensure the program endures beyond central supply chains.

Zimbabwe already has a culture of agro-entrepreneurship at the village level. Tapping into this potential by offering technical training, start-up support, and market access can turn fruit tree cultivation into a thriving microenterprise sector.

Extension Services and Institutional Integration

Government agricultural extension officers must also be placed at the heart of this initiative. These frontline workers already interact with farmers on issues ranging from soil conservation to pest management. Equipping them with horticultural training and logistical support including mobility, inputs, and demonstration kits can dramatically increase uptake and survival rates of fruit trees.

Furthermore, institutional coordination is essential. The Forestry Commission, the Ministry of Agriculture, local authorities, NGOs, universities, and private agricultural colleges must work in sync. Their combined knowledge, reach, and networks can support every aspect of the program from selecting the right species for each agro-ecological zone, to setting up community grafting centres, to linking smallholders with export-ready markets.

Water Security: Small Dams for Big Impact

No horticultural initiative can succeed without reliable water. The government’s complementary efforts to invest in small dam construction and water harvesting systems should be directly aligned with the horticulture scheme. A well-sited micro-dam or community borehole, managed collectively and supported with basic irrigation infrastructure, can ensure the survival of trees during dry spells and allow for off-season cultivation of vegetables and herbs.

Such integrated infrastructure planning also unlocks secondary benefits such as fish farming, livestock watering, or even eco-tourism further boosting rural incomes.

Weather, Wealth and the Will to Grow

Zimbabwe enjoys one of the most favourable climates in Southern Africa for horticultural development. With diverse microclimates, rich soils, and abundant sunshine, many districts have ideal conditions to support a wide range of fruit species. What is needed now is a long-term vision that links natural advantages with structured policy and local capacity-building.

By sourcing seedlings, compost, and fencing materials from rural suppliers and cooperatives rather than relying solely on central procurement, the government can keep more value within communities. This would stimulate the emergence of a rural horticulture economy — one that generates jobs, nurtures generational wealth, and reduces dependency on food aid or remittances.

Information Access and Local Networks

Despite the scheme’s good intentions, many rural households still lack clear information on how to access support, what is being offered, and what is expected in return. A strong communication campaign — via radio, community meetings, mobile platforms, and traditional leadership — is essential to ensure transparency and boost participation.

Equally important is the creation of local implementation networks. These could include ward-level horticulture committees, led by local leaders and supported by extension officers and youth volunteers. Their role would be to monitor tree survival, coordinate training, identify local success stories, and ensure accountability in input distribution.

From Policy to Practice

For the Presidential Horticulture Scheme to succeed, it must not be treated as a short-term political deliverable, but as a long-term national strategy. It should be allowed to run in perpetuity, and evolve with time. Policies should not just focus on quantity — how many trees planted — but quality: how many trees survived, how much income was earned, how many young people entered horticulture as a career.

If we get this right, Zimbabwe could become a regional leader in community-based horticulture. Our villages could transform into green belts, our youth into agro-preneurs, and our economy into one rooted in sustainability and self-sufficiency.

Conclusion

The success of the Presidential Horticulture Scheme lies not just in the seedlings delivered but in the roots it plants in communities. It must be localized, institutionalized, and deeply embedded in rural life. With fruit trees, we are not just planting food — we are planting wealth, health, climate resilience, and hope.

Now is the time to empower village players — because without them, even the best policy risks bearing no fruit.

Bio:

Last Mazambani (PhD) is a transformational project management and change management professional in the public sector. His academic publications are on sustainability, financial inclusion, financial technology, and cryptocurrency. Click here to access his academic profile. Last can be contacted at lastmazambani@gmail.com.