The Sunday Mail
Hon Vice-President Mnangagwa
This is the last part of Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s lecture titled command Agriculture in Zimbabwe: Myths, Lessons and Future”, delivered at Midlands State University on May 10, 2017.
Furthermore, I believe that, with the availability of a number of water bodies in the country, there is great scope for citrus fruits, especially oranges.
In this respect, I am reliably informed that Midlands State University is growing, an initiative which the institution should encourage other farmers to take, in order to create a critical mass for fruit juice extraction.
The initiative can be further developed through deliberate improvement of cultivars, irrigation and pest controls, among other activities.
It is crucial that, we take a decisive lead in promoting fruit juice production by taking advantage of our favourable climate.
I implore you therefore that in order to achieve this objective, we need to adopt more efficient water harvesting strategies in order to make optimal use of all rain and ensure that no drop goes to waste.
The strategy for fruit juice production, speaks to Zim-Asset which gives specific targets for this sector.
In the same vein, it is critical for bodies like the African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA) to work closely with agricultural value chain to bolster food security in the face of the debilitating effects of climate change. Areas that can be covered can embrace; fertiliser usage, soil conservation techniques, development of more effective herbicides, effective methods of irrigation (including drip), ways to minimise post-harvest losses and optimising organic farming methods, among others.
This, for example, may be done through exploring partnerships for sharing research and knowledge under the aegis of a robust research and development thrust. Such partnership and collaboration can provide answers to the challenges posed by low productivity, hunger and malnutrition.
Indeed, as the president of AFSTA and managing director for seed co in Zimbabwe, Denias Zaranyika, aptly put it:
“Where others see challenges of climate change, we see an opportunity to make our research, breeding, production, extension, support and market-fit-for-purpose and relevant to the felt-needs of African Farmers . . .”
I am therefore, convinced that there must be a deliberate drive to continue investing in seed science, technology and skills development, so as to attain seed varieties that will survive the vagaries of climate changes and crop diseases.
Hand in hand with this thrust, I also believe that we should also enhance research into indigenous small grain seed varieties like rapoko, mhunga and mapfunde
Command Livestock Programme
Cabinet recently authorised that we proceed with the command Livestock programme, targeting beef dairy and poultry and the production of associated equipment.
The timing of these events is such that the livestock sector will benefit from the high grain production this year, through stock feed.
This trigger economic activity as agro-processing, companies, transporters, marketers and retail and related services will be distributing stock feeds to farmers, creating additional employment.
Unlocking the maize value chain
As per my address at the Maize Value Chain conference, our goal is to unlock the entire maize value chain in terms of providing starch, glucose, cooking oil, bran for bakeries and cattle feed for livestock, among other needs, in view of the projected bumper harvest. I am delighted that the stock feeds can kick start our command Agriculture livestock programme.
In addition, our economic blue print, Zim-Asset, is geared for an increased supply of cooking oil from domestic sources.
Going forward, we need to increase the hectarage sources. Going forward, we need to increase the hectarage under soya been production. To boost productivity across the entire economy, Government has put in place measures to address policy and institutional capacity challenges that need to be mitigated to ensure that Zim-Asset goals and objectives are met.
These include the ease and cost of doing business, national pricing models, review of tariffs, manufacturers’ rebates, value added tax deferment, the national competitiveness commission, special economic zones, and industrial parks, and buy Zimbabwe initiative.
In addition to this, the expansion of the Victoria Falls International Airport opens new opportunities for investors.
Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Funding
Government recently launched an MSME Funding Facility of US$90 million incorporating a Horticulture Facility, the Cross-Border Facility, Gold Support Facility, Women Empowerment Fund High and Business Linkages Facility.
The Horticultural Facility has been earmarked for the export of high value horticultural products like cut flowers, vegetables, fruits and nuts have immense potential in export earnings and in fostering financial inclusion, particularly among players who are not fully banked.
I therefore urge players in the Small and Medium Enterprise and Co-operative Development Sector to take advantage of the recently launched US$10 million horticultural export facility which was launched by the Ministry, RBZ and some financial institution. I am confident that it will go a long way in fostering financial inclusion among MSMEs and cooperatives.
2016-17 Command Agriculture lessons
The following lessons can be drawn from the 2016-2017 Command Agriculture experience.
First, it is the fact that the abundant rains which have been falling during this Agricultural season teach us an important lesson, that is, the need to harness water by ensuring that we use it optimally.
There is no doubt that, if it had been properly harnessed and harvested, it could have been in the use for the next two years in the event of drought. We must therefore develop an effective water harvesting strategy to build capacity in our irrigation.
Secondly is the need for promotion of small grains production.
I therefore urge those farmers in the climatically unfavourable geographical areas to consider venturing into small grains production, in addition to short season varieties of maize especially where there are few irrigation facilities.
Small grains also have high nutrient value.
Marketed and packaged correctly, they fetch good prices due to their increasing demand from the specific health conscious niche-market.
Thirdly is the need for a long term strategy aimed at reorganising the fertiliser production chain by drawing on lesson from friendly countries like Belarus, Peoples Republic of China and India among others.
The future lies in us enhancing our capacity to manufacture our own fertiliser and exploit trade agreements between our companies and friendly countries ready to cooperate with us. Fourth, universities need to be centres of excellence for agricultural innovation and research and development and act as incubation centres for research projects before handling them over for mass production and commercialisation.
I believe that, going forward, our focus should be more on closing any planning and operational gaps we might have encountered during this 2016/17 agricultural season. Each succeeding year should help stabilise and produce a perfect operational balance until we have adequate food security and nutrition for this great nation at the ‘household’ ‘village’ ‘ward’ district’ ‘provincial’ and ‘national’ levels.
Winter wheat update
Planting of winter wheat has already started in earnest. Funding for 65 000 hectares has already been mobilised.
Building on success achieved
Going forward, I want to challenge all scholars, policy makers, agronomists, agricultural planners, researchers, nutritionists and national security establishment to draw lessons from the progress made so far in order to further enhance the success of the programme, with a view to extending it to other agricultural sub-sectors like high value crops for export, among other items.
A revitalised agricultural sector has the potential to create an enhanced agro-processing value chain through beneficiation and requisite packaging.
It is in this respect that I want to challenge Midlands State University, other institutions of higher education and research centres to interrogate and explore how the CA model can be extended to cover other crops and economic ventures.
Can this emerging model lend itself to other sub-sectors of the economy like mining, tourism and manufacturing, among others?
I therefore challenge you to use your research and analytic skills to defend the gain of our hard won independence such as Land reform.
Conclusion
In conclusion the 28th African Union Summit which was held from 22nd to 31 January 2017 under the theme; “Harnessing the demographic dividend through investment in the youth” offers Zimbabwe an opportunity for capacity building, particularly among women and youth.
The Young Farmers Club are an example of one- sub-sector where our youth can be involved in. As alluded to in the ten point plan by His Excellency, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Force, Cde R.G Mugabe point’s number 1 and 2 underscore the imperative of,
— Revitalising agriculture and agro-processing value chain
— Advancing Beneficiation and/or Value Addition to our agricultural and mining resource endowment.
In addition to the achieving the core objective of satisfying national food security and nutrition and thereby substituting the need to import maize, the programme will undoubtedly enhance the capacity of our farmers and help galvanise the nation and stir up a sense of unity of purpose and national pride with regard to our ability to produce food for ourselves, and turn around our economic fortunes.
Furthermore, the Programme has immense mobilisation potential which we must unleash as we prepare for the 2018 elections, hence communities must be activated geared and fully supported in the continued implementation of the Programme.
Finally, I want to commend the press on their comprehensive and informative reports on command agriculture .You are successfully educating the nation on the CA and raising awareness on the imperative for adequate food security and nutrition as they are the bedrock for peace stability and development.
Indeed, ‘’Iwe neni tine basa /Wena lami silomsebenzi’’
I thank you.
