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Precious Manomano-Herald Reporter
The detrimental effects of climate change are being mitigated by Government through working with farmers on ways to boost production by expanding access to mechanisation and irrigation while strengthening public-private partnerships.
Climate change is threatening to adversely affect the agrarian systems in the country through inconsistencies in seasonal weather patterns.
Zimbabwe is in the region that will probably see less rainfall season due to the El Nino weather effect.
Supplementary irrigation, that is relying largely on rain, but having irrigation to cope with dry spells and to start planting earlier, can make major differences in yields.
The range of programmes introduced by the Government is to ensure farmers can continue to earn better incomes while producing enough food for the country and their own families.
These programmes include the Climate Proofed Presidential Inputs Support Scheme as well as National Enhanced Agricultural Productivity Scheme (NEAPS) and the construction of dams, as ways to bolster agriculture production.
Speaking during a climate smart agriculture programme on sustainable innovations and practices to ensure food security held in Harare, Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development Davis Marapira said Government had made great initiatives in strengthening bilateral cooperation with several countries, fostering exchange of knowledge, expertise, technologies, finance and investment.
He added that adequate infrastructure, such as irrigation systems, storage facilities and transportation networks was essential for the efficient functioning of the agricultural value chains.
“Recognising the challenges posed by climate change, it is imperative that we establish comprehensive and adaptive policies that enable our farmers to cope with the changing environmental conditions and sustainably manage their farms. Furthermore, we recognise the importance of private sector engagement and public-private partnerships.
“The Government’s role is to provide a facilitatory role, ensuring agricultural transformation that is private sector-led and public sector-facilitated,” he said.
Government has also witnessed remarkable growth in the production value chain,with the support and massive participation of the private sector in climate-smart agriculture.
It has been working tirelessly to promote the participation of the private sector in all aspects of agricultural transformation.
Another critical aspect is the support for agricultural research and development which plays a significant role in enhancing the productivity and efficiency of our agricultural practices.
By investing in research and development, there is a room to unlock new technologies, techniques and best practices that will empower farmers.
The Government has also strengthened bilateral cooperation with several countries, fostering exchange of knowledge, expertise, technologies, finance, and investment.
The recent collaboration between Zimbabwe and Belarus exemplifies the positive bilateral relations that are championed towards sustainable agriculture.
Deputy Minister Marapira also said the Government is committed to supporting the agricultural sector, particularly small-scale farmers adding that they are witnessing positive responses to the current programs aimed at spurring transformation and supporting climate-smart initiatives..
“We are committed to ensuring that our rural areas have the necessary infrastructure to support the growth and development of the agricultural sector.
Equally important is the provision of farmer training and extension services,” he said.
Acting World Bank country manager Ms Fadzai Mukonoweshuro said they are assisting the Government with technical assistance adding that they also help in tracking weather patterns.
“We can actually inform farmers when to put the crop on the ground and when they are expecting the rains. This is one of the areas we are looking at.
“We are also looking at providing the ministry with technical persons with climate smart technology for adaptation with farmers and also going around training trainers of trainers in. We are a knowledge bank as the World bank. We have assisted a number of farmers to ensure that some of these terminologies are taken up by the farmers,” she said.
AFC Holdings chief executive Mr Francis Macheka said they are supporting families on tree planting where families are growing trees all around their homes adding that these fruit trees will also provide food benefits.
Although being a global phenomenon, climate change is posing negative effects to development as it is affecting key productive sectors, thereby threatening to derail development gains made over decades.
In particular, climate change is threatening the viability of the agriculture sector, the mainstay of the country’s economy, with adverse impact on downstream industries and general access to water for human consumption and domestic and wild animals, which affects tourism activities.
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