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Monalisa Chikwengo
Strides have been made by the Government, with technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), in combating biodiversity loss.
Biodiversity loss, also called loss of biodiversity, is a decrease in biodiversity within a species, an ecosystem, a given geographic area, or earth as a whole.
Speaking during an Agro-biodiversity Policy Framework validation workshop held in Harare recently, Agricultural Research, Innovation and Development chief director, Dr Dumisani Kutywayo, said the workshop was a step towards creating policies and regulatory frameworks that safeguard, manage and restore agro-biodiversity and its relation to agro-ecosystem services in the agriculture sector.
“Most smallholder farmers who produce the bulk of the food for the country depend on agrobiodiversity adaptable to the adverse climatic conditions that prevail in their communities. “Preserving and using genetic resources for food and agriculture, which are dependent on agro-biodiversity, is critical not only for the sustainability of the local food system, but also for global food security,” he said.
The effects of biodiversity loss in Zimbabwe are becoming more visible, posing significant risks to agricultural productivity.
Government recognises agriculture as a priority sector in achieving sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction.
But the unprecedented loss of biodiversity poses serious risks to the main economic sectors such as agriculture, resulting in food and nutrition insecurity, high poverty levels and over-exploitation of the environment.
Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development acting Deputy director, Mr Thabani Siziba, said partnerships were key for effectively implementing the framework and would help accelerate and strengthen agro-biodiversity conservation and sustainable use for food security.
“Government, United Nations agencies, civil society, the private sector, communities and farmers, were encouraged to work together as one team and desist from working in silos,” he said.
FAO policy and programmes specialist, Mr Kudzai Kusena, speaking on behalf of FAO representative in Zimbabwe, Mr Patrice Talla, emphasised FAO’s commitment to support the Government to meet its multi agreements in facilitating conservation, sustainable use and restoration of agricultural biodiversity, landscapes and watersheds.
“FAO is dedicated to aiding the Government in reinforcing its agricultural policies to promote sustainable and resilient agri-food systems by preserving, maintaining, and recovering agrobiodiversity and associated agro-ecosystems. “This approach aims to achieve four significant objectives of better production, nutrition, environment, and health,” said Mr Talla.
The meeting agreed that biodiversity policies, governance and management should not violate human rights and that those implementing such policies should actively seek ways to support and promote human rights in their design and implementation.
Results of the validation will be incorporated to come with the final agro-biodiversity policy for approval with its launch imminent.
The workshop was hosted by FAO with the aim of strengthening the sustainable management of agricultural production and productivity towards the attainment of food and nutrition security.
The European Union (EU) funded project seeks to integrate biodiversity and effective management of chemicals in agriculture.
The project aims to achieve this by creating a policy environment that supports these goals, enhancing policy implementation and encouraging changes in agricultural practices.
Online Reporter