adminMidlands Bureau Chief
THE Japanese government has come out in full support of the country’s economic blueprint, Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim Asset) by introducing micro-irrigation technologies in semi-arid areas to boost food security at household and community level.
Addressing farmers at the commissioning of the communal model gardens for training agricultural skills in Sikombingo area in Lower Gweru on Wednesday, Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Yonezo Fukuda said his country will continue working with Zimbabwe in averting hunger precipitated by climate change caused by global warming.
Ambassador Fukuda said: “This (micro-irrigation technologies) will result in increased production, improved nutrition resulting in enhanced food security at household level. This project dovetails perfectly with the government of Zimbabwe’s recently introduced “Food and Nutrition policy”, which is being implemented countrywide.
“This policy focuses on the need for national food security, nutritional diversity and improved diet for all Zimbabweans.”
Ambassador Fukuda said Zimbabwean farmers must embrace new farming techniques to counter decreasing yields and changing weather patterns.
“In recent years, Zimbabwe had to rely on food assistance due to a variety of factors, chief among them, poor rainfall. The adoption of modern farming techniques in Zimbabwe today is of utmost importance given the ever decreasing yields and changing weather patterns.
“An important component of this project has been the introduction of conservation agriculture and its emphasis on sustainable farming methods with minimal damage to the environment and minimal use of scarce water resources,” he said.
The Japanese Ambassador said the new project has also seen the introduction of high yielding sweet potato varieties, which were especially suited to climatic conditions of Gweru district.
Japan advanced $112,688 to Help from Germany, a non-governmental organisation, to fund the establishment of 200 communal model gardens for training agricultural skills in the Midlands province.
The project was designed to mitigate hunger as a partial fulfilment of Zim Asset.
The new farming technology does not need fuel or any form of power save for human effort.
The project involves the use of treadle-pumps for micro-irrigation purposes and smallholder farmers are given intensive training in the cultivation of sweet potatoes with the close assistance of the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development.
Speaking at the same occasion, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Midlands, Cde Jason Machaya, said Zimbabwe was grateful to Japan for being an “all weather” friend.
He said the garden programme in Lower Gweru was important in that it seeks to enhance food security at household level.
“Our friends from Japan are fulfilling the objective of Zim Asset, which values that people should have adequate food for consumption. Once that is achieved, everything else follows. The government cannot do all such programmes by itself. We need help from our friends like Japan and Help from Germany. We are grateful because their programme is doing wonders here and we need to take the models to other districts like Mberengwa and Gokwe,” said Cde Machaya.
He paid tribute to Lower Gweru people for working hard in their fields and gardens to sustain their families.
Help from Germany Country Director, Christoph Laufens, said his organisation was happy with the progress and impact of the garden project on farmers in Zimbabwe.
He said his organisation will continue working towards empowering rural farmers as part of its efforts to enhance food security.
Online Reporter