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Ashton Mutyavaviri
THE Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is working with Government to protect agriculture biodiversity through sound management of pesticides.Over the last three years, under the African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries Multilateral Environmental Agreements (ACP-MEAS) 3 project, a European Union-funded initiative that seeks to strengthen environmental governance and implement multilateral environmental agreements, Zimbabwe has made significant progress in policy development, sustainable agriculture research and development, mitigation of the impact of Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) and promotion of ecosystems-based agricultural practices through farmer field schools.
The International Biodiversity Expert and ACP-MEAs 3 project coordinator in Zimbabwe, Dr Kudzai Kusena, said Zimbabwe was setting an excellent example for other countries in Southern Africa by implementing the multilateral environmental agreements and policies for sustainable agricultural practices.
Dr Kusena said Zimbabwe’s efforts were commendable and should be a model for others.
He added that FAO had made significant progress in enhancing environmental sustainability in Zimbabwe, particularly as it has reached a significant milestone in drafting key policy documents like the agrobiodiversity policy frameworks, animal genetic resources strategy and action plan.
The national biodiversity strategy and action plans have also been reviewed and updated.
“In addition, FAO has provided technical support to the reviewing of the Zimbabwe Agricultural Investment Policy and the establishment of the Provincial Agricultural Investment Policies (PAIPs) by mainstreaming agrobiodiversity and sound management of pesticides,” said Dr Kusena.
Zimbabwe has reached a significant milestone in drafting key policy documents like the agro-biodiversity policy frameworks, animal genetic resources strategy and action plan.
To promote the adoption of ecosystem-based agricultural practices nine farmer field schools were established in Makoni, Mt Darwin and Gown South districts.
The schools have been instrumental in integrating sustainable agricultural practices such as water conservation, bio-pesticides to fight fall armyworms and introducing better-quality pastures.
The ACP MEAs 3 National Project Coordinator of FAO Mr Obert Maminimini said the concept of farmer field schools had brought significant mind-sets among farmers as they realised the benefits of ecosystem-based agricultural practices.
“For the 2023/2024 agricultural season farmers have managed to establish early crops, which are already at reproductive stage despite the poor rainfall season due to El Nino, by applying in-field water harvesting and moisture conservation techniques promoted through farmer field schools,” added Mr Maminimini.
Head of the Genetic Resources and Biotechnology Institute Mr Onismus Chipfunde said the final draft policy documents were ready for review.
“Once approved, these policies will be crucial in guiding Zimbabwe towards sustainable and ecosystem-based agricultural practices while promoting the sound management of pesticides. “Our goal is to have these policies approved and launched this year,” said Mr Maminimini.
Numerous activities to promote the adoption of ecosystem-based agricultural practices, the effects of indiscriminate pesticide use on pollinators, the impacts of highly hazardous pesticides on livestock and the link with antimicrobial resistance have been carried out under the ACP-MEAS 3 project.
Jimat Consultancy Services lead researcher, Professor Arnold Bray Mashingaidze, said the ACP-MEAS 3 project has conducted six in-depth studies on various themes, providing vital evidence to support the policy development process.
“These studies cover a wide range of topics including the link between antimicrobial resistance, barriers and enablers for adopting bio-pesticides, bio-fertilisers and bio-agents and assessing the state of organic agriculture in Zimbabwe,” said Prof Mashingaidze.
“We have also studied the extent to which sustainable agricultural practices are covered in university and agricultural college curriculums.
“We must join hands to transform our agri-food systems into sustainable agricultural practices.”
Prof Mashingaidze emphasised the importance of working with Government and all stakeholders as Zimbabwe moves to stop the loss of agricultural biodiversity and sound management of pesticides.
Stakeholders agreed that the ACP-MEAs 3 project activities had contributed a lot in raising awareness about the need to review the legislation on pesticide registration and regulation in the country.
They called on the Government to provide a viable alternative to reduce the use and impact of HHPs.
Fertilisers, Farm Feeds and Remedies Institute principal research officer Mr Kenneth Chipere said promoting bio-pesticides was critical and the support of all stakeholders, including the private sector was necessary.
Online Reporter