adminAfrica” during the ongoing World Economic Forum on Africa here yesterday, Prof Ncube said changes in weather patterns have for the past few years negatively affected crop yields.
Agriculture is the country’s economic backbone and it contributes about 14 percent to the Gross Domestic Product while the manufacturing sector obtains about 60 percent of its raw materials from agriculture.
“Zimbabwe is an agro-based economy and we need to move (with) speed to diversify the economy to counter the negative effects of the climatic changes,” said Prof Ncube. He also said Zimbabwe should promote the production of drought-resistant crops such as sorghum to improve food security.
Zimbabwe is expected to produce one million tonnes of maize this year, lower than the 2,2 million tonnes required annually, according to the Zimbabwe National Farmers’ Union. The union attributed the lower yields to erratic rainfall during the previous season.
Most farmers in Zimbabwe rely on rain-fed agriculture and analysts said substantial investment was necessary to boost irrigation facilities in light of creeping disaster emanating from climate change.
Contributing to the same discussion, Nigeria Commission for Civic Education executive Ms Charlotte Osei said economic diversification was vital for sustainable economy growth on the continent.
She noted Nigeria’s over-reliance on oil exports could be a catastrophe for the economy if prices fell.
During the discussion, it also emerged that African countries needed to strongly deal with risks that could affect economic growth. These include high levels of corruption, conflicts, value addition, particularly on minerals and other natural resources, infrastructural development as well as policies that complement regional integration
Regional integration was a major problem in Africa, despite the several trade agreements already place.
It was also noted that there was need to invest in research and technology and development of human capital. African exports make up 2 to 3 percent of world trade, but less that 12 percent of this remains on the continent.
This is against 25 percent in South East Asia, 49 percent in North America and 65 percent in the European Union. Participants said Africa ought to “compete at complementary level”.
The World Economic Forum began on Wednesday and is being held under the theme “Delivering on African Promise”. More than 1 000 delegates, including Heads of State and Government and captains of industry, are attending the forum which ends today.
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is expected to address delegates on Zimbabwe’s economic future.
Online Reporter