Story by John Nhandara
IMPLEMENTATION of climate-proof agriculture to mitigate the effects of climate change dominated discussions at a stakeholder roundtable discussion on the sidelines of the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show.
The effects of climate change, which are threatening Zimbabwe and Africa’s food security, have prompted stakeholders to meet on the sidelines of the Show to discuss ways of transforming the agriculture sector by adopting smart technologies.
“Zimbabwe’s vulnerability to natural hazards and the broader climate change impacts is high, necessitating a focus on climate adaptation. It is a climate change hotspot alongside other African countries. We have partnered with the government to ensure an enhanced agricultural knowledge innovation system to drive adaptation and mitigation measures in the sector. We have invested in the Zimbabwe Agriculture observatory which is a climate information platform,” said World Bank Acting Country Manager, Mrs Fadzai Mukonoweshuro.
This comes at a time the government is implementing the 8.0 Rural Development Programme which dovetails with smart agriculture initiatives and irrigation development.
The Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Honourable Davis Marapira said, “We have done a lot as Government to ensure climate proofing. The 8.0 model is a perfect example of rural industrialisation through irrigation technologies. We have encouraged water harvesting and households now have technologies such as drip irrigation.”
Meanwhile, India is implementing various climate resilient programmes in Zimbabwe under a US$1 million fund.
“We have provided US$1 million for climate resilient agriculture programmes in the districts of Chiredzi and Mangwe which has benefited over 5 000 farmers. We are implementing the programme together with the UN,” said India’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Ambassador Vijay Khanduja.
Stakeholders concurred there is a need to continuously invest in research to unlock new techniques and technologies in the agricultural sector.
