Zimbabwe showcases climate-smart agriculture blueprint in Rome

Theseus Shambare in ROME, ITALY

ZIMBABWE is set to take centre stage this afternoon at the 53rd Session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS 53) in Rome, Italy, where it will share lessons from its integrated approach to food and water governance — a model fast gaining recognition in Africa’s climate resilience discourse.

The five-day global meeting, running from October 20 to 24, brings together ministers, technical experts and development partners to shape future policies on food systems, water security and sustainable investment.

Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Vangelis Haritatos, who is leading the Zimbabwean delegation, said the country’s participation underscores its transition from policy to practice in achieving national food sovereignty.

“Water is not only a constitutional right but a strategic enabler of our economic transformation,” he said.

“We are now de-risking agriculture through irrigation expansion, climate-proof water systems and stronger public-private partnerships.”

The Rome meeting will open with the launch of the 2025 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report, before shifting to high-level discussions on responsible investment in food systems.

Zimbabwe’s presentation will highlight recent milestones in irrigation development, rural water infrastructure, and empowerment of smallholder farmers — key components of its drive towards climate-smart agriculture.

“You cannot have maize as a staple and still import maize seed,” said Deputy Minister Haritatos.

“Our approach is to build seed security around our strategic crops and empower clusters of small-scale farmers who can now produce at commercial levels.”

As climate shocks intensify across Africa, Haritatos said Zimbabwe’s strategy links land use, water resources and food systems in ways that ensure resilience and productivity even under stress.

The CFS 53 forum provides an opportunity for Zimbabwe to deepen international partnerships and attract investment into its sustainable agriculture programmes.

Ultimately, the delegation’s participation signals Government’s determination to turn global dialogue into local action — ensuring that every drop of water and every hectare of land contributes to national food security and climate resilience.