Story by Patience Nyagato
THE Government has primed the media to heighten coverage of climate-change resilience to better prepare communities for sustainable methods of food production and sufficiency.
The growing threat of climate change within Sub-Saharan Africa has seriously exposed many families to food insecurity and forced migration.
Knowledge and access to information on this reality, has become a necessity for survival says the Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services, Honourable Kindness Paradza at the 2023 Zimbabwe agriculture media awards held in Harare this Friday.
“As a government, we recognise journalists as critical integral players in the sustainable human development agenda. I call upon the media to report without fear or favour and discharge their duty objectively highlighting areas where farmers have excelled and where they need to improve,” he said.
“The need to report on challenges in the agriculture sector and lead in the process of finding solutions. You must dig deeper and bring a story that brings facts and understanding to what you are writing about.
“Through printed or broadcast words you must highlight achievements in the agriculture sector and discoveries. Access to information is increasingly recognised as a prerequisite for sustainable development as it is also anchored in the 2030 agenda.”
The Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Vangelis Haritatos added the importance of reporting on agriculture issues as the country strives to maintain food sufficiency.
“Since the turn of the century, zimbabwe has been subjected to the negative press by the international media hence there is a need that media practitioners covering the agricultural sector to tell our stories accurately,” he said.
“Recently the President headlined an alliance for green revolution forum in Rwanda where in a high-level round table he outlined the strategies that our country has employed to combat climate change and increased food production and attained food sufficiency.”
The Zimbabwe Agriculture Media Awards are held annually, to recognise media practitioners for their outstanding contributions to the growth and development of the agricultural sector.
The categories for excellent reporting include the Tobacco sector, oilseed, horticulture, small grains and dairy beef sector among others.
