Zimbabwe's black farmers should take agriculture seriously

Mr. Elvis Ncube, the Chief Human Resources Officer of Proton Bakers, emphasized the importance of taking agriculture seriously due to its significant contributions to economic development through the supply of raw materials to the manufacturing sector and the creation of employment opportunities. He made these remarks while presiding over the Mashonaland East provincial Agricultural Show held in Marondera last week, which operated under the theme "Inclusive agricultural transformation for beneficiation."

Mr. Ncube stated, "We are an agro-based society, and it is imperative for both our province and the entire nation to prioritize agriculture to combat poverty, hunger, and malnutrition. Agriculture is the cornerstone of our livelihoods, and as such, we must invest more in this sector. It has been demonstrated that the agriculture sector is two to four times more effective in poverty reduction than any other sector."

He also called for robust measures to address the impact of climate change on the agriculture sector. Mr. Ncube highlighted that climate change is a tangible reality that is significantly affecting agricultural production, particularly because a substantial portion of the sector relies on rain-fed agriculture.

"The consistency of rainfall distribution across the province and the country as a whole is no longer reliable. This irregularity has led to crop failures over the years, resulting in food and nutrition insecurity at the household level. To combat the effects of climate change, all stakeholders in the agriculture industry must collaborate and employ necessary techniques to ensure sufficient food production."

Mr. Ncube mentioned the Agriculture and Food Systems Strategy document, which outlines intervention strategies aimed at addressing weather pattern unpredictability. He cited conservation agriculture, known as Pfumvudza, as one of the successful interventions. This program has been implemented in Mashonaland East Province and throughout the country in recent years.

This year, the government aims to support 3.5 million households with inputs under the Pfumvudza program to boost food production. Zimbabwe has achieved food security over the past three seasons and has begun exporting maize to countries in need.

Mr. Ncube encouraged farmers to explore methods for harnessing surface water to use during droughts. The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development is encouraging farmers to cultivate crops that thrive in their respective regions to maximize output.

For farmers in natural regions 4 and 5, where rainfall is limited and temperatures are high, Mr. Ncube suggested growing traditional grains known for their resilience under such conditions.

Aplonia Munzverengwi, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Mashonaland East, commended farmers in the province and the relevant ministry for their efforts in positioning Mashonaland East Province as a leader in agriculture. She praised beneficiaries of Pfumvudza inputs for their dedication to ensuring food security.

Minister Munzverengwi also highlighted the success of the Pfumvudza project, which originated in Mashonaland East and has gained nationwide recognition. She underscored the project's role in promoting food self-sufficiency, even among individuals with limited access to equipment and resources.

"I want to congratulate all farmers in the province for the significant contributions you are making," Minister Munzverengwi concluded.