Republic of Zimbabwe Vice President Joice Mujuru at agricultural research event inside the country. Zimbabwe is rich with farming potential., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
‘Advance research in agricultural sector’
Sunday, 30 September 2012 00:00
Lincoln Towindo in Marondera
Zimbabwe Sunday Mail
Vice-President Mujuru has called for further research into how the country’s agricultural sector can adopt innovative mechanisms to deal with the effects of climate change.
Officially opening the Mashonaland East Provincial Agricultural Show here yesterday, the Vice-President noted that the country’s food security is increasingly being threatened by the global weather phenomenon.
“While Mashonaland East might have escaped a terrible drought, other Zimbabwean provinces such as Masvingo, Midlands and Manicaland had most of their crop written off,” she said.
“Climate change is a reality as evidenced by the extreme weather conditions we are experiencing and the shifting of seasons. This poses a serious threat to food security.
“Government applauds the Scientific Industrial Research and Development Centre (SIRDC), the research arm of Government, who have responded to the call for improved food security in the country by introducing a new drought-resistant maize variety recently.
“Such research need not be undertaken for maize only but other crops, including livestock.”
Cde Mujuru urged farmers to insure their crop against the risk of crop failure which may result from the unpredictable weather conditions.
“Farming is a business and hence it should be treated as such.
“It is therefore important that farmers consider insurance seriously so as to insure themselves against risk. I encourage all farmers to minimise risk of loss due to unpredictable harsh weather by insuring their crops with reputable companies accredited to the Insurance and Pension Commission (IPEC), the regulatory arm of Government that supervises all insurance and pension funds.
“I also want to take this opportunity to call upon the private sector to complement Government effort through innovative financing of farmers.
“Seed houses, fertiliser and other contracting companies have been very forthcoming towards achievement of the national goal of food and nutrition security.”
Speaking at the same event, Mashonaland Agricultural Show Society chairman Mr Stanley Jakopo called on farmers to invest in weather prediction equipment to help them plan for forthcoming seasons.
“Farmers are faced with an extremely daunting challenge of having to contend not only with input shortages but harsh and unpredictable weather conditions as well,” he said.
This year’s show, which ends today, ran under the theme “Agriculture Production Under Shifting Climatic Conditions”.
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