The Zimbabwean Horticulture and Research Institute held its annual planning and review meeting in Marondera as the department takes stock of milestones achieved and maps the way forward. HRI is stationed at Grassland Research Station in Marondera.
The meeting was aimed at reviewing the work done and also highlighting plans for the future in terms of the focus of the research. In an interview with Zimpapers on the sidelines of the meeting, the institute's head, Ms Linda Muusha, highlighted the importance of the planning and review meeting as well as the critical role science-based research plays in horticulture production.
"As the Horticulture Research Institute, right now our current research focus is based mainly on promoting organic production of horticulture crops," she said. "We have been evaluating several organic horticulture products that are on the market. As you know, there is a big market for organically produced crops, especially in the export market.
"We are also looking at crops like watermelons and butternuts, and we are trying to find the best agronomical practices for these crops. As you know, farmers are now into high production of water melons and butternuts, so we are trying to find the best production method for those crops so that our farmers can maximise their profits and also produce the best crops."
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