Zim makes strides in smart agriculture implementation

Columbus Mabika

Herald Reporter

ZIMBABWE has made great strides in the implementation of climate-smart agriculture practices, a move which has increased yields as evidenced by the expected bumper harvest expected this season, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Masuka has said.

Dr Masuka made the remarks yesterday while presenting a topic on Climate Smart Agriculture to participants of the Joint Command and Staff Course at the Zimbabwe Staff College in Harare.

This comes as Zimbabwe this season has an impressive 11 427 531 Pfumvudza plots, a marked increase from the 9 817 408 plots last year. A total of 1 613 114 hectares is under maize and another 370 768ha under traditional grains.

Dr Masuka said smart agriculture practices were the only way to counter climate change-induced food insecurity.

“Smart agriculture implementation is anchored on the agriculture food systems and rural transformation strategy launched by President Mnangagwa. We have made great strides. We started Pfumvudza with zero plots now we have 11 427 531 plots.

“At the national level, we have seen accelerated smart agriculture interventions uptake with smart irrigation and conservation farming, so we are headed in the right direction,” he said.

Agriculture was the mainstay of the economy, but recurrent droughts and the impact of climate change had negatively affected the sector. Turning to securing land tenure, he said the Government had come up with discounts for farmers to obtain title deeds.