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Conrad Mupesa Mashonaland West Bureau
THE recently held 76th Chinhoyi Provincial Agricultural Show was attended by a Namibia delegation and gave opportunity for the visiting team to learn and draw experiences from local farming models.
Zimbabwe is just one of two African nations that managed to be wheat self-sufficient in last year’s season, with Mashonaland West playing a pivotal role.
The province, which signed bilateral relationship with Kavango East Region in Namibia in 2019 has in the last summer cropping season managed to surpass its maize targets, much to the admiration of the visiting team.
Namibian Members of Parliament, councillors and government officials were part of the delegation.
The country’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Nicklaas Kandjii said they had a lot to learn from the province which produces over half national grain harvest and 30 percent of Zimbabwe’s tobacco.
Speaking during the official opening of the well attended annual show at Chinhoyi Agricultural Showgrounds at the weekend, Mr Kandji said: Allow me to implore the people of Kavango, who are here with us today and represent many back home, to take a leaf, learn and master what our Zimbabwean counterparts are doing towards improving productivity at home.
“As you have observed, no one is being left behind, no place is being left behind in the production and development matrix. Let us adopt the same practices and improve production,” he said.
This year, Mashonaland West has planted a record of 26 953 hectares under winter wheat and is aiming at achieving a wheat yield of five tonnes per hectare.
He singled out the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme which he said had become a game changer in agriculture production in Zimbabwe.
It is pleasing to note that as a country, you have improved production under the climate proof flagship Pfumvudza Programme and you have improved food and nutritional security at household level. It is through such practices and innovation that as a country and indeed as a Province you will be able to significantly grow the Provincial Economy, and attain Vision 2030.
During the delegation’s tour of various agricultural models in the province, Namibian legislator and head of delegation Mr Damian Maghambayi said farmers in the country were thriving as a results of Second Republic’s policy framework that included availability of free inputs to communal farmers and favourable loans to A2 and commercial farmers.
Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Mary Mliswa-Chikoka confirmed that the her province was ready to partner Kavango East for food security and sufficiency.
No doubt, together we shall traverse through to posterity and we shall continue to be a people making history. We share a history, not of stagnation, but of progress, of forging ahead and of sharing a common vision in oneness and in unity, she said.
Show Society chairman Mr Godfrey Mavhankeni who confirmed a provincial presence at the Rundu Trade Fair to be held this coming November, said the provincial show was attended by over 130 farmers drawn from across the Mashonaland West.
Farmers, government institutions, corporates walked away with prizes at the show whose theme read: “Adoption of Smart Farming: Going for Growth.
Online Reporter