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Gibson Nyikadzino, Zimpapers Politics Hub
GOVERNMENT on Thursday engaged India to exchange notes on mitigating the impact of climate change and broadening modalities on cooperation in the agriculture sector.
In a meeting between Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka and India Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Bramha Kumar, the two parties agreed to entrench agriculture cooperation to boost food security.
Through this co-operation, India offers Zimbabwe 250 fully paid scholarships to Government officials under the Indian Economic Cooperation Programme (IECP).
Ambassador Kumar expressed his government’s availability to share best practices on disaster risk resilient infrastructure and climate resilient agriculture with Zimbabwe.
Ambassador Kumar said because of such engagements, Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector may look to India as a big destination for agro-products.
He requested the Government of Zimbabwe to also identify a suitable agency or institute to participate in capacity building programmes.
Dr Masuka appreciated India’s efforts at revolutionising its agriculture sector, lauding efforts by its government for the proposal to the United Nations (UN) for the celebration of the 2023 International Year of Millets.
Both acknowledged that “millets are an important crop for arid and semi-arid regions and they play a “role in global health and food security”.
Zimbabwe, Dr Masuka said, will continue engaging with India for agricultural mechanisation support.
Online Reporter