News / National
Grace Mugabe hails innovative citizens
26 Aug 2016 at 06:32hrs | Views
The First Lady, Dr Grace Mugabe, yesterday commended Zimbabweans for being innovative and contributing towards national food security. Food Security and Nutrition is a cluster under Zim-Asset.
In an interview after touring several stands at the Harare Agricultural Show yesterday, the First Lady said she was impressed by the level of innovation exhibited at this year's show.Dr Mugabe toured university stands, including Women's University in Africa, Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University, Tobacco Research Board, agricultural equipment supplier Tanaka Power, Agriculture Produce Hall, ZiFM Stereo, Alpha and Omega, Gushungo Holdings and Miss Zimbabwe Tourism Trust among others.
She was impressed by the twin horse fire extinguisher at Tanaka Power, the different types of pelleted tobacco seed at the TRB and different vegetables and horticultural crops that were displayed in the agriculture produce hall.
At Gushungo Holdings, she was taken through the different activities being done at the dairy and beef projects.
The farm is also making efforts to ensure all operations are done in an environmentally friendly way from land preparations, harnessing of water, fire management and future plans of expressing oil from soyabeans and manufacturing stockfeeds.
At the Ministry of Rural Development, Preservation and Promotion of Culture and Heritage stand, the First Lady was shown the history of Zimbabwe in pictures among other things.
She said the tour of the stands was enlightening and educative.
"I am impressed by the enthusiasm shown by the people exhibiting at this year's show. I appreciate the innovations they have shown in agriculture and to the fulfilment of the Zim-Asset's cluster of food security.
"People are working hard in their individual capacity and as companies, but mostly as individuals to ensure Zimbabwe becomes self-sufficient in terms of food security.
"I was impressed by the fire extinguisher at Tanaka Power which is useful when fighting fires. Tanaka Power has an array of agricultural equipment and bring components and assemble locally which is good for employment creation. We should not always import finished products," she said.
She warned Zimbabweans against causing unnecessary fires which destroy the environment which is a habitat of several wildlife species and a source of feeds for livestock.
"Forests are important. Some countries do not have such resources and the people come to Zimbabwe for that.
"Let us conserve the environment," she said.
She expressed appreciation to local universities for coming up with different innovations, which she said should be supported.
"Our universities have students who are also very much raring to go in terms of technology. I saw a lot of things they are trying to do technologically and hopefully they will be supported so that they can compete with other international universities technologically," she said.
She encouraged women farmers who were exhibiting produce at the show to strive to be self reliant.
She said it was important to invest in research to come up with varieties that were drought tolerant especially small grains.
In an interview after touring several stands at the Harare Agricultural Show yesterday, the First Lady said she was impressed by the level of innovation exhibited at this year's show.Dr Mugabe toured university stands, including Women's University in Africa, Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University, Tobacco Research Board, agricultural equipment supplier Tanaka Power, Agriculture Produce Hall, ZiFM Stereo, Alpha and Omega, Gushungo Holdings and Miss Zimbabwe Tourism Trust among others.
She was impressed by the twin horse fire extinguisher at Tanaka Power, the different types of pelleted tobacco seed at the TRB and different vegetables and horticultural crops that were displayed in the agriculture produce hall.
At Gushungo Holdings, she was taken through the different activities being done at the dairy and beef projects.
The farm is also making efforts to ensure all operations are done in an environmentally friendly way from land preparations, harnessing of water, fire management and future plans of expressing oil from soyabeans and manufacturing stockfeeds.
At the Ministry of Rural Development, Preservation and Promotion of Culture and Heritage stand, the First Lady was shown the history of Zimbabwe in pictures among other things.
She said the tour of the stands was enlightening and educative.
"I am impressed by the enthusiasm shown by the people exhibiting at this year's show. I appreciate the innovations they have shown in agriculture and to the fulfilment of the Zim-Asset's cluster of food security.
"People are working hard in their individual capacity and as companies, but mostly as individuals to ensure Zimbabwe becomes self-sufficient in terms of food security.
"I was impressed by the fire extinguisher at Tanaka Power which is useful when fighting fires. Tanaka Power has an array of agricultural equipment and bring components and assemble locally which is good for employment creation. We should not always import finished products," she said.
She warned Zimbabweans against causing unnecessary fires which destroy the environment which is a habitat of several wildlife species and a source of feeds for livestock.
"Forests are important. Some countries do not have such resources and the people come to Zimbabwe for that.
"Let us conserve the environment," she said.
She expressed appreciation to local universities for coming up with different innovations, which she said should be supported.
"Our universities have students who are also very much raring to go in terms of technology. I saw a lot of things they are trying to do technologically and hopefully they will be supported so that they can compete with other international universities technologically," she said.
She encouraged women farmers who were exhibiting produce at the show to strive to be self reliant.
She said it was important to invest in research to come up with varieties that were drought tolerant especially small grains.
Source - the herald
