dyton mupawaenda
Mukudzei Chingwere in ROME, Italy
Zimbabwe has a stable political environment characterised by peace, the necessary political will, and an excellent climate that augers well for massive agricultural production, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has said.
These remarks were expressed by the United Nations food security and nutrition agency’s Director-General Dr Qu Dongyu after a meeting with Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga here yesterday.
The meeting was held as Zimbabwe continues to ramp up climate proof national food security and foster a vibrant export sub-sector.
On its part, FAO has long identified Zimbabwe as one of the production epicenters from which less productive regions can rely on for their food and nutrition security.
Dr Qu also told journalists that it is FAO’s hope that such meetings should further entrench relations between the UN agency and member states.
He also played up Zimbabwe’s status as a responsible member of the FAO, announcing the establishment of a “Zimbabwe Room” at FAO headquarters, a recognition shared by only a few countries worldwide.
“I want to thank the Honourable Vice President for making time to come here. We are working together to end hunger and try to benefit small holder farmers,” said Dr Qu.
“Zimbabwe is one of the responsible countries of the FAO.
“I myself enjoy very close cooperation with Zimbabwe thanks to the leadership of your country, the President and also the Vice President and the ministers always engage.
“Your country’s natural environment is so good, favourable to the agro food systems, you have a stable political situation, you have improved the agrifood systems infrastructure.
“Infrastructure is so important and Zimbabwe has big potential to explore. We want to speed up the transformation of food systems.
“We have offered Zimbabwe a Zimbabwe Room here at the headquarters of FAO and it is one of the very few countries in the world with this honour,” said FAO Director-General.
Dr Qu said FAO has always been a willing partner to the development of Zimbabwe’s agriculture adding that it is ready to play a part in ensuring the flow of further investment into the sector.
VP Chiwenga said Zimbabwe’s main ambition is to leverage the expertise of the FAO.
The Vice President revealed that the Director-General of FAO confirmed the availability of 11,000 experts who can assist in various agricultural initiatives.
The focus, he said, will be on rural industrialisation, which aims to empower local communities and create sustainable economic opportunities.
This initiative aligns with Zimbabwe’s broader strategy to foster economic growth and development, particularly in rural areas, where many citizens rely on agriculture for their livelihoods.
By collaborating with FAO experts, Zimbabwe hopes to implement innovative practices that can transform rural economies and uplift communities across the country.
The Vice President said, “We are eager to tap into this wealth of knowledge to enhance our agricultural sector and improve the livelihoods of our people.”
“Zimbabwe has been honoured to be selected for the FAO’s Hand-in-Hand Initiative, and we have engaged in significant collaboration with the FAO.
“Our goal is to enhance our value chains, transforming our agro-industries into a reality that effectively contributes to our economy. We aim for a vibrant agricultural sector that plays a pivotal role in driving our GDP growth.
“The FAO has also established a dedicated ‘Zimbabwe Room’ at their headquarters. We envision transforming this space into a vibrant representation of our culture.
“As a hardworking people, we are eager to showcase our heritage to the world. Our Ambassador, alongside the Ministers of Agriculture and Tourism, will work collaboratively to bring this vision to life,” said VP Chiwenga.
Online Reporter