Sundaymail Editor
Online Reporter
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has donated information and communication technology (ICT) equipment to the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development to support the operationalisation of the Agricultural Information Management System (AIMS).
A consignment of 250 tablets, 22 laptops and 70 desktops – valued at US$154 000 – was handed over during a ceremony in Harare on Tuesday.
The Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund (ZRBF) also received part of the donation.
Acting UNDP resident representative Ms Madelena Monoja said the equipment will be used to set up a modern agricultural information system.
“We are positive that the equipment will be used to improve evidence generation and utilisation within the relevant Ministries, for informed resilience-related policy decisions,” she said.
Mrs Monoja said the equipment is building on previous data management support.
Said Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development permanent secretary Dr John Basera:
“The generation of data by AIMS will improve both agricultural productivity and profitability. The benefits include knowledge and access to appropriate inputs, extension advice, weather warnings and market prices.”
Dr Basera said the use of ICTs in agriculture and resilience-building enables the monitoring and prediction of trends, which in turn allows communities to plan for risks and disasters.
Online Reporter