Online Reporter
Judith Phiri, Zimpapers Business Hub
ZIMBABWE’S largest integrated media house, Zimbabwe Newspapers (Zimpapers), in partnership with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development and International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat), will host the second International Traditional Grains Conference in Bulawayo on Friday.
Building on the success of the inaugural conference last year, the second edition comes at a critical moment for Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector.
Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka, will be the guest of honour.
The high-level conference will be held at the Zimbabwe International Conference and Exhibition Smart City (Zices) Hall 2 with a packed programme that will comprise a keynote address, panel discussions and technical presentations.
Indian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Ambassador Bramha Kumar, Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Judith Ncube, Industry and Commerce Deputy Minister, Raji Modi, among other dignitaries, will attend.
Traditional grains are vital to addressing food security, climate resilience and nutrition. However, unlocking their full potential requires innovation across the value chain, from production to processing, marketing and consumption.
Zimpapers events co-ordinator, Mrs Hilda Marijeni, said all was set for the international conference.
“Zimpapers, in partnership with Icrisat and Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Development, private sector players and development partners, is convening this international conference to reimagine the role of traditional grains in driving resilience, inclusive economic growth and cultural identity,” she said.
“The conference also seeks to promote market linkages and partnerships among farmers, researchers, the Government, private sector and development partners.”
Mrs Marijeni said the conference would strengthen traditional grains value chains through innovation, mechanisation and private sector investment. The outcomes will contribute to policy and regulatory frameworks that create an enabling environment for traditional grains.
Mrs Marijeni said the event will showcase scientific advances in breeding, agronomy, mechanisation and climate-resilient varieties, as well as promoting cultural drivers and branding that enhance adoption, marketability and consumer appeal.
The conference sub-themes include: innovating value chains -business models that work, looking at private-sector-
driven approaches for processing, marketing and integration into wider value chains, including feed industries.
Also on the agenda is the focus on enabling environments, policy and regulation, focusing on policies that support traditional grains, with regional lessons from Kenya, Namibia and the Centre for Co-ordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (Ccardesa).
The gathering will also tackle frontiers in research, enhancing production looking at advances in crop breeding, agronomy and scaling up climate-smart traditional grain varieties.
“Our target audience is policy makers, the private sector, those in the mechanisation and related technologies field, development partners, academia and research, as well as seed houses and financial institutions,” said Mrs Marijeni.
She said the goal was to have a balanced focus across policy, science and business, showcase practical demonstrations of machinery, seed varieties and post-harvest solutions.
The gathering is also targeting cultural and nutritional integration, linking traditional grains to health, heritage and consumer branding.
“The expected outcomes are strengthened policies and regulations supporting traditional grains, increased market linkages and private sector investment in traditional grain value chains,” she said.
“As well as youth and women empowerment through mechanisation, entrepreneurship and innovation.
“We want to see enhanced adoption of climate-resilient varieties and agronomic practices, raised public awareness and appreciation of traditional grains as drivers of food security, business and cultural identity.”
By bringing together policymakers, researchers, private sector leaders and farming communities, the event will shape actionable strategies for resilient food systems, inclusive business growth and cultural revival.
