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RESEARCH institutions and institutions of higher learning have been called upon to take the lead in mitigating modern farming mechanisms to respond to climate change and evolving global markets. This was underscored by Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa in a speech read on his behalf by Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development, Cde Paddington Zhanda on Wednesday in Mutare during the Zimbabwe Farmers Union 75th Annual Congress. Cde Mnangagwa said there was need for more investment towards research in agriculture to improve the country’s declining average yield productivity.
He said the setting up of more universities such as Chinhoyi University of Technology in Mashonaland West, Marondera University of Agricultural Sciences and Agricultural Research Stations, Lupane State University in Matebeland North and Midlands State University was a deliberate effort by Government to empower the nation in terms of research and development.
“I must point out that any value addition strategy is underpinned by vibrant research and development initiatives…Most importantly these institutions must produce scientific solutions that answer our problems. “I believe they have an important role to play in adding value not just to our crops and livestock but to our systems as well. To that end, research should not just end with scientific improvement and experimentation in growing crops, raising livestock for improved breeds and strains, but in exploring how traditional concepts like nhimbe can be infused or adapted to mechanised farming practices and technologies under certain conditions,” he said.
Cde Mnangagwa said Government recognised that agriculture remains the mainstay of the country’s economy. He said the sector currently accounted for 10.7 percent of the Gross Domestic Product, 16 percent of exports, 60 percent of the raw materials utilised by the domestic manufacturing sector, while 70 percent of the rural community throughout Zimbabwe was sustained from agriculture.
In response to a question on how lack of affordable financing affected farmers productivity potential, Cde Zhanda said though financing was key in farming, it was not the panacea of farming present-day.
Cde Zhanda said training was needed to capacitate farmers on modern farming in the wake of climate change and evolving global market trends.
He cited that Zimbabwe used to beat Australia in the average yield per hectare in cotton farming, but Australia was exceeding the country’s average yield per hectare ten-fold regardless of some commercial farmers getting all the financial support.
“In 1995 and 1996 we produced 2.6 million metric tonnes and 1.8 metric tonnes came from communal farmers who had one Agritex officer per ward. Now we have four Agritex officers per ward, but we are producing 0.5 tonnes per hectare.
“We can only address the issue of viability once we increase productivity and productivity requires us to work and to commit to farming as farmers,” said Cde Zhanda.
Online Reporter