adminlaunched by President Robert Mugabe. Prof Mutambara said the successful land reform was a revolution that created a new dispensation although
there was need to boost productivity.
“We need another type of revolution to boost utilisation and productivity of the land to achieve high yields. This is the only way we can achieve the promises of the Food and Nutrition Security Policy,” he said.
He said it was important that farmers were empowered to produce enough for national food security and even venture into value addition of the products to increase profits.
“We should export processed goods from the agriculture sector,” he said.
He expressed concern over the increase of imported food which has made Zimbabwe “a supermarket for South African products.”
“The agricultural products in the country are from South Africa.
“We should make sure there is reasonable trade between ourselves and our neighbours. Let us grow, consume and export value added products,” he said.
Prof Mutambara urged Zimbabweans to eat traditional food instead of refined European food which he said was not healthy.
“Do not believe Europeans know a lot about food. Their food is not healthy that is why there are obese people.
“Let us go back to our traditional meals such as mhunga and rukweza that are highly nutritional. I fail to understand why refined mealie-meal is more expensive than unrefined mealie-meal when the nutrients have been removed,” he said.
Prof Mutambara said the Food and Nutrition policy should be spread to other Sadc countries and the whole continent to fight hunger in Africa.
The Food and Nutrition Security Policy is expected to guide the nation’s response to the country’s food and nutrition challenges in both good and bad seasons.
Online Reporter