adminSifelani Tsiko Senior Writer
South Korea, through the Korea-Africa Food and Agriculture Co-operation Initiative, has provided a US$270 000 grant to the Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre To fund a three-year agriculture extension service development and soya bean mechanisation programme.
SIRDC chief executive officer Dr Robson Mafoti, who is also co-vice chairperson of the KAFACI, said US$120 000 was earmarked for the Enhancement of National Agricultural Extension Service for National Food Security project and US$150 000 for soya bean mechanisation.
“The support we are getting from KAFACI aligns very well with the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Soci Economic Transformation Food and Nutrition Security cluster,” he said.
“This programme will go a long way in helping Zimbabwe in its food production as it works towards the restoration of its former bread basket status.”
Dr Mafoti said the project, dubbed “Development and Application of an Integrated Mechanisation System for Soya bean Cultivation”, would result in reverse engineering and local manufacture of motorised hand-held planting, harvesting and processing equipment for soya bean production.
Online Reporter