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.
This comes after the distribution of more than 700 tablets to all agricultural extension workers from across Mashonaland West province, a move set to enhance data collection, storage and communication systems.
A beneficiary of the programme said, “Our daily duties involve data collection and processing so the coming on board of mobile gadgets will enhance our operations.”
“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,” noted another.
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 6 000 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,” he said.
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.
Said Professor Jiri, “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.”
Meanwhile, government has also distributed motorcycles to agricultural extension workers to complement the digitisation initiative.
