Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Chronicle Reporter
Zimbabwe’s three provinces have been allocated US$47,7 million under the “Building Climate Resilience of Vulnerable Agricultural Livelihoods in Southern Africa” programme which seeks to ensure climate change adaption within communities.
The project is being funded by Government in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Green Climate Fund.
It will run until 2027 and is targeting 15 districts and 137 wards in Matabeleland South, Masvingo and Manicaland Provinces.
Under the programme, Government has availed more than US$20 million while Green Climate Fund availed US$26,5 million and UNDP US$1,2 million.
Targeted output under the programme include increased access to water for agriculture through climate resilient irrigation systems and water resource management, scaling up climate resilient agricultural production and diversification through increased access to climate resilient inputs, practices and markets and improving access to weather, climate and hydrological information for climate resilient agriculture.
Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry deputy director in the climate change management department, Mr Kudzai Ndidzano, said some of the activities under the project will include rehabilitating irrigation schemes, training of farmers and equipping agriculture institutions, among others.
Making a presentation on climate adaptation projects underway in the country at a capacity building programme in Bulawayo yesterday, Mr Ndidzano said one of the projects includes the building of Climate Resilience of Vulnerable Agricultural Livelihoods in Southern Africa.
“The project will benefit 15 districts and 137 wards. It will target 21 irrigation schemes, 6 900 lead farmers and 230 farmer field schools,” said Mr Ndidzano.
He said Government institutions that will be supported are Makoholi Research Institute in Masvingo, research stations in Matobo, Chisumbanje and Chiredzi as well as Esigodini Agricultural College.
“The 21 irrigation schemes will move towards greater water efficiency and use of renewable energy in order to contribute to greenhouse gas emission reduction through using clean energy.”
Mr Ndidzano said under climate change adaptation, communities should be able to come up with action plans they will employ to cushion themselves against the impact of climate change.
The Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry is conducting a two-day training workshop for journalists from the Southern Region to capacitate them on climate change adaptation and mitigation initiatives being undertaken in the country.
Mr Ndidzano said the media fraternity has a key role to play in the drive to combat effects of climate change.
“Climate change is real and continues to have adverse impact on the African continent, particularly on developing countries that are highly vulnerable such as Zimbabwe.
“Key to the success of this project to combat climate change is raising awareness on climate change and building the citizens’ capacity to adapt and the media plays an important role in raising awareness,” he said.
Mr Ndidzano said the media is a vehicle for disseminating climate change information hence the need to build capacity of media personnel in climate change information so that the media can effectively raise awareness.
Among the objectives of the workshop is to unpack the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) commitment which was recently approved by Cabinet.
Various policies and strategies have been embraced since the adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015, which include the National Climate Policy, Low
Emission Development Strategy, NDC Two-Way Communication Strategy, National Adaptation Plan Roadmap, the 2017 System Development Plan, the Renewable Energy Policy, Biofuels Policy, Revised National Gender Policy and Implementation Plan, National Water Resources Master Plan, National Agriculture Policy Framework, Climate-Smart Agricultural Investment Plan and the National Industrial Development Policy.
These are important in the implementation of the NDCs.
Government launched the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), which outlines policy and strategic direction beginning this year up to 2025.
The NDS1 has a pillar that focuses on climatic change issues, among other environmental and natural resource management issues. — @DubeMatutu
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