Vusumuzi Dube
Judith Phiri, Business Reporter
Zimbabwe Newspapers’ Sunday News Traditional Grains Conference set for tomorrow (Friday) in Bulawayo will now be held at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre (ZIEC) Hall 2 to accommodate more people.
The event aims to bring together stakeholders to discuss and develop strategies for improving the sustainable production of small grains as the summer cropping season beckons.
It is being held in partnership with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat) Zimbabwe running under the theme: “Unlocking the potential of traditional grains for food and feed security.”
Traditional grains play a crucial role in Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector, contributing to food security, nutrition and sustainable livelihoods.
Announcing the venue change, event co-ordinator Mrs Hilda Marijeni said the ZIEC Hall 2 will accommodate more people.
“The previous venue we had has become very small as a number of farmers and players in the agriculture sector have shown keen interest in attending the event, this is why we have opted for a bigger venue. All is set and we are ready to host the conference,” she said.
She said the conference will be a one-day event structured around the keynote address to be delivered by the guest of honour, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri, interactive sessions and panel discussions.
The proposed activities include an opening ceremony and a formal opening session featuring keynote speeches from Government officials and experts, highlighting the importance of traditional grains production and setting the context for the indaba.
The panel discussions will be expert-led on various topics, such as best agronomic practices, climate-smart farming techniques, market opportunities, value addition and post-harvest management.
There will also be knowledge sharing, through presentations by researchers, successful farmers, and industry experts, sharing their experiences, innovations, and success stories in traditional grains production.
The conference follows the approval of the Summer Plan for 2024/25 season by Cabinet, whose focus is on agro-ecological mapping, climate-proofing at household level (Pfumvudza/Intwasa) and at national level (irrigation) where the Presidential Input Programme has effectively enhanced the provision of traditional grain seeds such as sorghum and pearl millet seed and related inputs to small grain producing districts such as Masvingo, Midlands and Matabeleland provinces.
Online Reporter