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Elita Chikwati Senior Agriculture Reporter
Zimbabwe has launched the National AgriTech Strategy (2021-202) which is meant to assist African countries to accelerate technological change in farming and increase production and productivity.

The Agritech Strategy which will be sued by other African countries to integrate ICTs into agriculture will also help smallholder farmers connect to mainstream markets and industries and improve their livelihoods.

In a speech read on his behalf, by Deputy Minister Vangelis Haritatos, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Anxious Masuka said Zimbabwe developed the National Agritech Strategy to leverage Agritech innovations to improve efficiency, increase effectiveness and to reduce costs and enhance the competitiveness of agriculture.

“The strategy was developed under the Smart Africa e- Agriculture and AgriTech initiative championed by Zimbabwe,” he said.
Minister Masuka said the strategy will be implemented through the Integrated Agriculture Information Management Systems.

“AIMS is a ministry and sector-wide innovative information communication management integrating the crop assessment systems for are, yield and risk, livestock management resources and water resources management systems,” he said.

“The establishment of AIMS subsystems will facilitate the real-time collection, collation, analysis, syntheses and distillation of agriculture statistical data and information, raise awareness of the critical role of accurate information, raise awareness of the critical role of accurate information for planning, policy research, monitoring and evaluation while promoting the wider adoption and use of evidence-based decision making,” he said.

Minister of ICT, Jenfan Muswere said the launch of the stagey was in line with President’s national vision and the NDSi1.

“We are delighted that the blueprint we have produced will be replicated in Africa. It is important to optimally utilise the potential of ICT in agriculture,” he said.

Smart Africa director-general, Mr Lacine Kone said Africa did not have any policy on the use of ICT in agriculture.

“This blueprint, under the leadership of Zimbabwe, was adopted by all member states of the Smart Africa Alliance and officially launched during the last Smart Africa Board meeting on November 10, 2021.

“The blueprint aims at improving the lives of the smallholder farmers within rural and peri-urban communities through better utilisation of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the agricultural value chain.

“The aim is achieved through harmonization of regulatory and policy framework and proffering strategic recommendations for the African Member States to create national and cross-border pilots in AgriTech in Africa.

“This creates immense potential for Africa to pull communities out of poverty and also to guarantee food security for our growing population,” he said.