Zimpapers Logo

Ruth Butaumocho
African Agenda

The global effects of Covid-19 on the economy have been felt in almost every sector, and agriculture is no exception.

Lockdowns being imposed at country levels have resulted in the disruption of several economic activities, as African leaders across the continent put measures to stop the further spread of Covid-19.

With limited movements that come with lockdown measures, employers both the in the public and private sectors have had to cut down on their onsite employees, as everyone adjusts to the “new normal”, owing to surging numbers of new infections.

Aware of the long term economic implications of scaling down major economic activities, the Government has been keeping an eye on economic activities, hence its decision to declare that mining, agriculture and several other commercial activities should remain open during the lockdown.

With no clear indication on how long it would be before a lasting solution is found, countries have begun to look inward for solutions to sustain their productivity levels and ensure food security as the world battles to contain the virus.

For Zimbabwe, resuscitation and sustenance of agriculture remains key.

The Government’s decision to finance the sector has already paid dividends’ judging by the maize bumper harvest the country recorded in the just-ended farming season.

It is on that basis that the agriculture sector needs the support of every stakeholder to ensure that Zimbabwe has enough food for its people and surplus for export.

With anticipated good rains, like the previous season, nothing should hinder the country from recording another bumper harvest, after the Government recently reiterated its commitment to support the agriculture sector by financing the sector and other ancillary programmes linked to agriculture.

Giving an update on the state of Zimbabwe’s major projects during the presentation of the mid-term fiscal policy review recently, Professor Mthuli Ncube said during the first six months of the year, the budget disbursed $11,9 billion to the Agriculture Ministry for targeted interventions which were complemented by US$10,9 million from development partners.

Because of the support measures, Prof Ncube projected an estimated growth of 34 percent up from the original budget projection of 11 percent, a development which he says is crucial for national development.

“Agricultural production and productivity are critical for food security, employment as well as income generation for the majority of the people who reside in the rural areas, whilst also providing inputs to the manufacturing sector.

“This is in recognition that agricultural activities are one of the major sources of employment and will remain so in the foreseeable future,” he said during the mid-term fiscal policy review.

His assertions cannot be further from the truth because historically, agriculture is and has always been an anchor sector for the country’s economy and it’s out-turn often impacts positively on the manufacturing sector.

However, the success in the revival of value chains will be based on the ability of the agriculture sector to produce adequate raw materials to feed into the other productive manufacturing sectors.

Once that has been achieved, the country will witness a hype of activity in value chains, which naturally will result in employment creations because players will now be manufacturing goods and providing services needed in the agriculture sector.

Activities that have been taking place in the production sector show that the sector is now on a positive trajectory.

It also encouraging to note that both small scale and commercial farmers are innovating and widening the range of crops they are growing each season, in line with international demands.

Macadamia nuts, bananas and an array of vegetables for export market are now part of the farming basket for the discerning farmers who are also eyeing regional and international markets for their products.

The country is also beginning to witness an increase in the number of organisations, countries and private companies, eager to partner local farmers in several farming projects.

Recently, Nespresso, an operating unit of Switzerland-based Nestlé Group, partnered a local organisation, TechnoServe, to revive the country’s coffee production, with results now manifesting in coffee production areas such as Honde Valley.

Under the Nespresso AAA Programme, hundreds of local farmers have been engaged to help revive coffee production which at one point in time used to earn Zimbabwe millions.

The AAA programme is a long-term partnership under which the Nestlé unit has partnered with more than 2 000 farmers through the reviving origins programme to educate local farmers on sustainable farming practices.

If successfully implemented, the nation will record an increase in coffee production in the country, pushing Zimbabwe towards reclaiming its position in the world, where it was once the second coffee producer after Brazil.

Despite the effects of Covid-19, the nation remains optimistic that the 2021-22 farming season should sustain the momentum and ensure another bumper harvest of major crops.

In the event that the country may not receive adequate rains, the Second Republic have done well in investing in different water bodies that can be used to irrigate thousands of hectares in selected areas across Zimbabwe.

During the mid-term fiscal policy review, Prof Ncube announced that in line with the Irrigation Rehabilitation and Development Master Plan of having 350 000ha under irrigation by 2025, resources amounting to $1,5 billion have been expended in support of several irrigation programmes.

These include 30 ongoing irrigation projects covering 1 450ha which are being implemented through the National Accelerated Irrigation Development Programme.

The flow of disruption of imports owing to Covid-19, is something that Africa always be grateful of, because it has forced many countries to look within for solutions.

But of course, there is always need to constantly review strategies and sync them with regional and international trends to ensure that Zimbabwe is not left behind in the Fourth Industrial Revolution on farming trends.

With the world still navigating Covid-19, with most borders remain closed, improved farming technologies, and shorter supply chain production are critical key elements in this shift.

Farmers now need to respond to the need for convenience, as well as the demand for fresh and nutritious food in line with emerging health issues linked to Covid-19, where traditional and unprocessed foods are gaining popularity.

This paradigm shift in consumption patterns calls for the nation to produce more of what it is good at, export the excess and buy what it is not yet capable of producing in large quantities and continue feeding the nation.

Feedback: [email protected]