Story by Tamuka Charakupa
Government has distributed over 700 mobile digital gadgets to agriculture extension officers from across Mashonaland West Province this Friday, cementing the centrality of digitisation to all economic activities.
The move is expected to enhance data collection, storage and communication systems.
“Our daily duties involve data collection and processing so the coming on board of mobile gadgets will enhance our operations,” said an Agritex officer.
“Manual data entry is tiresome and is associated with many risks especially now during the rainy season. Sometimes papers get lost, burnt or get soaked with rain so this is a welcome development,” said another Agritex officer.
“We needed to communicate in real time with our colleagues and supervisors so that we will be able to advise farmers accordingly. We are delighted that this programme is leaving no one and no place behind,” another added.
The Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Honourable Vangelis Haritatos presided over the ceremony where he spelt out the advantages of using the gadgets.
“Over 6 thousand gadgets are set to be distributed countrywide. So far we have distributed to other province except for the Midlands Province. As government we remain committed towards transforming the agricultural sector and we believe the capacitation of extension workers will go a long way in ensuring that farmers benefit from timely, well researched information informed by enhanced communication channels between the ministry and its ground forces,” said Minister Haritatos.
The event was also an opportunity for the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry Professor Obert Jiri to give an update on the containment of the African armyworm.
“We have managed to contain the African army worm but the advice remains that farmers should always scout for pests in their fields. We are urging the farmers to take advantage of the rains to plant sweet potatoes for food security and also plant sugar beans for nutritional benefits,” he said.
Meanwhile, government has also distributed motorcycles to agricultural extension workers to complement the digitisation initiative.
