By Fanuel Chinowaita
Harare, 1 February 2026 – The Rural Development and Industrialisation Directorate has intensified efforts to transform rural economies through agro-based industrialisation, value addition and public-private partnerships.
Speaking during an interview in Harare on Friday, Operations Director for Rural Development and Industrialisation, Washington Katiyo, said the department is focused on commercialising agriculture while developing basic infrastructure to support rural enterprises.
“The Rural Development and Industrialisation Department is advancing the rural development thrust by promoting agro-based industrialisation, developing raw infrastructure and commercialising agriculture,” Katiyo said.
He said value addition remains a key pillar of the programme and is being implemented through the establishment of irrigation-based village business units in rural areas.
“We are supporting value addition through the irrigation village business units that we are setting up. As a directorate, we are operationalising these business units to ensure rural communities move beyond primary production,” he said.
Katiyo added that the directorate is also advocating for and supporting value addition in rural enterprises through partnerships with the private sector.
“Through public-private partnerships, we are creating employment, improving household incomes in rural communities, strengthening food security and ensuring a steady supply of industrial raw materials,” he said.
He said the initiatives are aimed at empowering communities and promoting inclusive and sustainable rural growth.
Katiyo also said the directorate is promoting the dairy sector through the establishment and support of milk collection centres.
“We are promoting the dairy sector, particularly through milk collection centres. We currently have 23 milk collection centres that we are supporting,” he said.
The initiatives are expected to boost rural industrialisation, create jobs and improve livelihoods in line with government’s rural development agenda.