Agriculture,Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Dr Joseph Made (centre), his Deputy Davies Marapira (far right) and Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) Commissioner-General Paradzai Zimondi are welcomed by Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Huang Ping at China Aid Agricultural Technology Demonstration Centre (Gwebi College) for a machinery show and field demonstration programme yesterday. — (Picture by Justin Mutenda)
Elita Chikwati Agriculture Reporter
Government is working on a project to support the Agricultural Rural Development Authority, prisons, universities and other institutions that own farmland, with machinery and equipment to boost agricultural production and enhance food security.
In an interview at the China-aid agricultural technology demonstration centre machinery show and field day at Gwebi Agricultural College yesterday, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister, Dr Joseph Made said Government intended to boost the production of crops such as grains, cereals, potatoes and commercial crops such as flowers.
The institutions will also be expected to produce seed while others will produce livestock.
“All institutions with land must be facilitated with machinery, including irrigation equipment to boost agricultural production. Institutions such as prisons, universities and colleges with land, churches and Government institutions such as the Agricultural Rural Development Authority will be assisted with machinery. The machinery will not be for free. We will start with the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS).
“ZPCS have excellent prime land and a population to feed. They can even produce surplus. Prison farms will also be able to assist surrounding communities with equipment and machinery. Some institutions have commercial agriculture land which is endowed with good soils and water. We are looking at the capacities of the institutions in terms of natural resources,” he said.
The agricultural demonstration centre at Gwebi was constructed by China in 2009. It is meant to showcase Chinese technology, which includes mechanisation and irrigation technology to increase food production.
The centre is currently being run by a Chinese company — Debont — and advised by the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development.
“Today we have seen a wide range of equipment. I am convinced that the future of our farming sector lies in the development of mechanisation and irrigation.
“There is also evidence of climate change that is affecting our agriculture.
“Faced with the demand for more food and other agricultural commodities by an increasing population, there is no choice for us, but to improve our production systems through mechanisation and irrigation development,” he said.
China brought in equipment which was improved at the centre to suit the local conditions.
Debont project manager, Ms Mia Liu said the centre signed cooperation agreements with eight other agricultural colleges and had introduced scholarships to students in agricultural colleges.
“The centre is composed of an agricultural production and training base.
“Therefore, it merges research, production, education work and community living together.
“The functions of the centre include experimental study, demonstration, technical training and sustainable development,” she said.