‘We’re open to advice on agric matters’

Government is open to advice, research, products and solutions that help farmers counter climate change and boost national food and nutrition security, Minister of State for Mashonaland East Apollonia Munzverengi said yesterday.

In a speech to mark a field day, read on her behalf by deputy director in her office, Mr Kumbirayi Chimusoro, at Chitemerere Village in Murehwa, Minister Munzverengi said Government welcomed efforts by private organisations to help farmers adapt to the effects of climate change, upscale productivity levels, livelihoods and food security.

“As Government we welcome the strides being made by private players in the upliftment and empowerment of our smallholder farmers. We are aware that a different approach to agriculture is sorely needed. This should, ideally, deliver household food security, ensure sustainable livelihoods and produce quality nutrition in a rapidly changing climate,” she said.

During the field day, Syngenta, a leading international agricultural company, donated hybrid seeds, pesticides and fertilisers to farmers who excelled during the last cropping season.

“We call upon other organisations to follow this good gesture by Syngeta, the agricultural training they are providing is strengthening practices that are well suited to the challenges facing smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe,” she said.

Cde Munzverengi said Syngenta during the 2018/19 agricultural season provided over 15 000 households throughout the country with research, soil testing, agricultural training and climate-smart high-yielding and stable hybrid maize seed varieties.

Speaking during the same event, Syngenta support manager Mr Moses Kudanga said his organisation planned to invest more resources and time in extension programmes which include training and competitions in the small-holder farming sector throughout the country ahead of the upcoming cropping season.

“For this coming season we have lined up a number of programmes, whose objectives are to foster a competitive spirit among farmers and enhance crop production,” he said.

Mr Kudanga said Syngenta would avail two new maize varieties — MRI514 and MIR 624 — which are proven to be stable across seasons and across agro-regions, and will result in improved yields.