Chronicle Editor
By Johnsias Mutonhori, [email protected]
LANDS, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Deputy Minister, Davis Marapira, says investing in robust irrigation systems holds the future in terms of achieving sustainable food production in the face of recurrent droughts.
Deputy Minister Marapira stressed the importance of creating strategies that enhance sustainability and long-term solutions to ensure food security at community level.
Speaking at a winter wheat launch programme in Somabhula near Gweru recently, Deputy Minister Marapira said dealing with hunger requires comprehensive steps that capacitate communities to be self-sufficient as opposed to waiting for food aid.
“Emergency relief is a nuisance which we should avoid as communities. Everyone knows that providing food to hungry communities is not a permanent solution,” he said.
Deputy Minister Marapira called for a paradigm shift from over-reliance on rainfall to utilising water bodies to counter the effects of climate change.
“Inadequate and unreliable rainfall in areas such as the Midlands province restrict the potential for the development of rain-fed agriculture on which the livelihoods of smallholder farmers depend,” he said.
Deputy Minister Marapira said these farmers can only minimise their risks by growing some of their crops under irrigation. This year most crops wilted due to drought thereby threatening food security.
Deputy Minister Marapira urged the adoption of new farming technologies and emphasized the importance of collaboration with the Department of Agricultural Extension Services.
“The Department of Agritex is mandated to provide technical and extension services to farmers. The result of this is an agricultural extension system that emphasizes the importance of exchanging and sharing knowledge, skills, innovations, ideas and experiences on wheat production,” he said.
The Midlands Province has increased its hectarage under winter wheat by 489 hectares and expects to harvest 64 000 tonnes.
Online Reporter