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Precious Manomano-Herald Reporter
AGRICULTURAL extension officers have received 6 000 motorbikes and 3 200 rider suits as the Government gives them the transport they need and upgrades their equipment so they carry out their work more efficiently.
A shortage of transport was the major challenge affecting extension staff to reach and help farmers. Motor bikes have been considered ideal given that the extension staff have to move around farms.
The bikes were mobilised by the Government as part of efforts to boost agriculture extension services and were distributed in the provinces to extension workers.
Handing over the motorbikes in Harare on Monday, Permanent Secretary for Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr John Basera, said extension officers played a critical role in ramping up production and promoting rural economies.
“Productivity at the moment is a bit low so we need to transform so that we upscale productivity especially at farms. That’s the development on rural economy. We believe that extension services provision is a critical enabler in the agricultural transformation process. I urge you to do your work and provide positive results, nothing will stop you from doing your work and producing good outcomes,” he said.
Dr Basera also highlighted that farmers should take farming seriously as it contributed immensely to the country’s economy.
The Government has made notable progress in capacitating extension workers including organising refresher courses and issuing electronic appliances to help them with their work.
Extension workers applauded Government for the gesture saying the motorbikes would go a long way in improving agricultural productivity.
Mr Fungai Duwa of Zvimba district said motorbikes were an essential tool which would make their work easier, adding that she will now access areas that are very far away.
“It will enable us to reach even the remotest parts of our province and provide timeous services to our farmers. This will improve our mobility and visibility as agricultural extension officers in our operations, she said.
Ms Anna Murebeni of Sanyati district said the bikes were a big motivation that will bring positive results.
“Today’s event is an example of the commitment by the Government of Zimbabwe to ensure food security. We are grateful for this support and we vow to discharge our duties and bring positive results. We used to walk long distances but now we can use this transport to reach out to all farmers,” she said.
Mr Dennis Mashinga said this was a critical development in the sector.
”We are happy with this development. Nothing will stop us from producing pleasing results. The riders’ suits will make us warm while on the other hand we have reliable transport which can take us to any place. We thank Government for this support and we promise to produce good results,” he said.
The agriculture sector is one of Zimbabwe’s major economic mainstays and in the recent past the Government has continued to roll out a number of initiatives to boost productivity in the sector.
Such initiatives include the National Enhanced Agricultural Production Scheme, Presidential Climate Proofed and the Presidential Rural Horticulture and Livestock Programmes.
The agriculture sector has already hit the initial 2025 target of US$8,2 billion a year as the industry grew by 36,2 percent to US$8,19 billion in 2021.
In 2020, the Government launched the Agriculture and Food Systems Strategy as an integral part of the national development agenda being driven by President Mnangagwa. The strategy is underpinned by growing the economy, ensuring Zimbabwe grows its own food and ensuring that a vast swathe of rural families move from poverty to growing affluence with the production rises spread right across the sectors.
Online Reporter