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    Boost for agricultural production

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    Sharon Chikowore

    IN a bid to revolutionise agricultural data collection and dissemination, the Government distributed tablets to agricultural extension officers in Mashonaland West Province recently.

    The initiative aims to replace the traditional method of using books for data collection which was often time-consuming and prone to errors. With the tablets, officers can now collect and send data in real-time, enabling timely decision-making and intervention.

    “We had a challenge as officers when we did crop and livestock assessment, we had a questionnaire we carried which had more than 40 pages and we had to interview and get information from more than 30 farmers which we had to fill in information. We are excited about the potential of this technology to transform our work. With these tablets, we can quickly capture and transmit data on crop yields, soil health and weather patterns among other critical factors,” said Stesa from Ward 14 Sanyati District.

    Another officer, Adam Anderson, from Ward 17 Sanyati District added saying: “I would want to thank the Government for these tablets as they will greatly improve our ability to respond to needs of farmers and agricultural communities. We are committed to leveraging technology to drive agricultural development and improve food security.”

    The Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Vangelis Haritatos, said the rollout of the tablets was part of a broader effort to modernise the agricultural sector and improve its resilience to climate change and other challenges.

    “The Government, through the ministry in charge of agriculture, is embracing technology to enhance our agricultural sector. We encourage our officers and officials to leverage this technology to provide timely information, enabling us to make informed decisions.

    “By introducing technology in agriculture, we aim to upgrade our farming skills, eradicate hunger and access real time data on ground conditions. This marks a significant improvement from the past, where information would often arrive after a two-week delay.

    “These tablets will empower us to plan for the future while responding promptly to emerging situations, ensuring we stay ahead in our agricultural development efforts,” said Deputy Minister Haritatos.

    The tablets were shared to 714 Extension officers across the whole of Mashonaland West Province. They are among the 6000 tablets being distributed throughout the whole country.

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