Zimbabwe pleads for more agriculture funding from E.U
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/
11.04.13
by Tarisai Jangara
Government has pleaded with the European Union to intervene and help fund
the ailing agriculture sector.
Speaking today (Wednesday ) at the official launch of European Union support
to Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector, the Permanent Secretary for Ministry of
Agriculture Mechanisation and Irrigation Development, Ngoni Masoka said E.U
should consider increasing more funding for the benefit of small scale
farmers.
The E.U unveiled a $12 million contribution which will be delivered from
2013 to 2015 and is aimed at increasing agricultural productivity and food
and nutrition security among the farmers.
The funds are being channeled through Food and Agriculture Organisation of
the United Nations, the official German Cooperation, GIZ and a
non-governmental organisation HELP, from Germany.
“We appreciate the funds that you have extended to the country today but we
are appealing for more funding. The sector is in need of intervention in
areas such as irrigation and mechanisation as they are central to increasing
agricultural production, said Masoka.
He said smallholder farmers who constitute about 1, 4 million farming
households were facing a number of challenges which included limited access
to working capital, lack of adequate machinery and limited access to working
capital.
The European Union Ambassador, Aldo Dell’ Ariccia said E.U would continue
contributing to the agriculture sector so as to create an enabling
environment to improve food and nutrition security.
“ The EU strongly recognises the importance of the agriculture sector not
only in respect of its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product but in
particular as a source of livelihood for the large majority of the
population in Zimbabwe,” he said.
Present at the launch was the country Director for HELP from Germany,
Christoph Laufens, FAO Emergency and Rehabilitation Coordinator Zimbabwe,
Jean Claude Urvoy and Head of Agency GIZ Zimbabwe, Winfried Hamacher.