Story by Aifheli Mudau
THE Zimbabwe Farmers Union has rallied members to work together in averting hunger at a time the country is reeling under the El-Nino induced drought.
Farmers who attended the Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) 84th National Congress in Bulawayo this Thursday have shown a collective commitment to building a resilient and sustainable agricultural landscape in Zimbabwe.
“I learnt a lot on how to do farming at family level for me to be food secure. Once we get support from the government to fight qualia birds, we can farm small grains,” said one farmer.
The nexus between family farming and food security has been cited as the major contributor to the availability of diverse and nutritious foods.
“As we navigate these uncharted waters, it is imperative that we as farmers unite under a common purpose, a purpose to safeguard our lands, nourish our communities and fortify our food systems,” noted Zimbabwe Farmers Union secretary general, Mr Paul Zakariya.
The Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development, Honourable Vangelis Haritatos weighed in, “Family farms are not only a means of livelihood for millions of Zimbabweans, they are a backbone of our nation’s food security. As we congregate here today, we must re-affirm our commitment to empowering family farms as we work towards establishing a sustainable food system in Zimbabwe.”
The ZFU National Congress was held under the theme: Family Farming and the Food Security Nexus.
