Inputs suppliers yesterday donated 6 200 rain gauges to the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement for use by extension officers across the country to broaden the area of coverage and assist them in their planning so that they can give farmers sound advice.

The rain gauges which were donated by Seed Co, Quton, Windmill and the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) during the 110th Zimbabwe Agricultural Show, will be used to measure rainfall at different stations.

Seed Co and Quton donated 2 500 rain gauges each, Windmill 1 000 and the TIMB 200.

Meteorological Services Department meteorologist, Mr Benjamin Kwenda, said the donation was a noble initiative that would enable extension workers to help farmers and advise them from an informed position.

“The rain gauges will help extension officers and farmers to know what would have transpired in terms of rainfall activity and this will boost agriculture productivity,” he said.

Seed Co regional manager, Mr Edward Mhandu, said SeedCo and Quton were happy to assist.

“The purpose is a noble one and we are pleased to be part of this initiative,” he said.

Windmill chief executive Mr George Rundogo assured Government of their unwavering support to promote transformation of the agricultural sector to boost production and food security.

“We look forward to an enabling environment to boost agricultural productivity,” he said.

TIMB tobacco specialist, Mrs Sheila Bhaureni, said the rain gauges will make it easier for extension workers to execute their duties.

The Ministry’s permanent secretary, Dr John Basera, said the donation would capacitate extension workers and farmers and allow them to make better operational decisions such as deciding which crops to plant, when to spray and to make short, medium and long term decisions.

“Even at policy level, we need data,” he said. “Climate change and variability had affected the sustainable development of the agriculture industry.

“We have to adapt, lest we die. And this (having rain gauges) is part of adapting to climate change. We need information for us to be able to sustainably adapt and it should be evident driven.

“For more than a decade, climate smart in agriculture has been included in the development agenda of sustainably increasing agriculture productivity and building resilience in agricultural systems.” Dr Basera said agro-ecological information tailored for farmers could help improve agricultural productivity and increase farmers’ incomes.

“This support we are receiving from the private sector will go a long way in scaling up and improving livelihoods, especially in communal areas,” he said.

“Sixty-seven percent of our population reside in rural areas and whatever investment goes into those areas is talking directly to the attainment of Vision 2030.”