Story by Peter Chivhima
ZIMBABWE is on course to achieving its food self-sufficiency objective after the country surpassed this year’s wheat production target of 420,000 metric tonnes.
This comes in the wake of revelations that more than 420 thousand metric tonnes of the crop have already been harvested.
The Food and Nutrition Security Cluster under the National Development Strategy One (NDS1) has seen 78 projects being completed while more than 200 are at various stages of completion.
Speaking after receiving computers from the Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services in Harare this Monday, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka, revealed that the wheat crop harvested so far has exceeded the all-time record of 375 000 metric tonnes achieved last year.
“As of yesterday, we have harvested 89 percent of the area, and the volume is now at 423 000 metric tonnes surpassing the all-time record of 375 000 metric tonnes achieved last. We think that at the current pace by the end of the week will be harvesting all the wheat,” said Dr Masuka.
The Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Honourable Tatenda Mavetera says digital transformation of government departments is high on the agenda.
“To achieve true digital transformation within our agricultural sector, it is essential for ministries to collaborate seamlessly towards shared goals. The synergy between the Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services and the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development is crucial for successfully implementing technological advancements across all aspects of farming operations. By combining efforts and expertise from both ministries, we can develop joint initiatives that leverage technology effectively in addressing key challenges faced by our farmers. Such collaboration could encompass initiatives like training programs aimed at equipping farmers with necessary digital literacy skills or establishing partnerships with private enterprises specializing in agri-tech solutions,” said Honourable Mavetera.
The government has crafted a cocktail of measures and strategies to achieve self-sufficiency in wheat production, with the country set to export surplus.
