adminAshley Mujoma
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister, Anxious Masuka, and EU Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Jobst von Kirchmann, launched the Team Europe Initiative on Greener and Climate-Smart Agriculture (TEI-CSA) for food security and helping the vulnerable in communities.
In a joint press statement, Von Kirchmann said this initiative, which mobilises all EU Member States and Switzerland, would contribute over €207 million in support of the government’s strategy for a more productive, resilient and “greener” agricultural sector.
“The €207 million will be used in food security and helping vulnerable communities become more resilient in the face of drought. These remain common priorities that Zimbabwe and the European Union share.
“Team Europe is fully committed to supporting the achievement of these shared goals,” said Von Kirchmann.
Minister Masuka said the Greener and Climate Smart Agriculture is a priority for the country’s economy.
“The Government of Zimbabwe has already embraced Climate Smart Agriculture and in 2020/2021 season launched the Presidential Climate Proof Input Scheme dubbed ‘Pfumvudza/Intwasa’.
“The Team Europe Initiative on Greener and Climate-Smart Agriculture (TEI – CSA) supports ongoing and upcoming interventions that look to increase ‘greener’ and climate-smart agricultural productivity in Zimbabwe while helping vulnerable communities overcome climate related challenges.
“Farmers will benefit directly from diverse systems that utilise crops resilient to pests, disease and drought, as well as through climate-smart practices that work to reduce their inputs while lowering emissions,” he said.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter