By Felix Mwatutsa
MARONDERA– The Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) is assisting farmers in Mashonaland East province in adapting to changing climatic patterns as part of its efforts to boost the country’s agricultural sector.
Regional farmer coordinator Maxwell Gwatiringa told Chaminuka that the organisation is assisting farmers to adapt to climate change through Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) programmes.
“These programmes support farmers with irrigation infrastructure and training, encouraging them to grow drought-tolerant and climate-resilient crops, integrate trees into farming systems for soil conservation and climate regulation, and promote minimum tillage, mulching, and crop rotation,” Gwatiringa said.
He added that they are also assisting farmers with weather forecasting and early warning systems. This is achieved through collaboration with the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) for weather updates.
The farmers’ union is establishing a network of weather stations and rain gauges and disseminating information through mobile platforms and farm radios.
These initiatives, he said, focus on enhancing crop yields and quality, promoting livestock farming, connecting farmers to markets, offering training programs, advocating for supportive policies, leveraging technology, and fostering partnerships with organizations to tap into their resources and expertise.
By tackling various facets of farming, from production to market access, Gwatiringa said the ZFU strives to cultivate a robust and resilient agricultural industry.
“The organization has been tirelessly working to support farmers and revive Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector. This is evident in our success in empowering youths in agriculture, supporting women in agribusiness, and improving agricultural productivity,” he said.
Two years ago, the ZFU hosted the Zimbabwe Youth Agripreneureship Summit which was aimed at promoting the participation of youths in agriculture through innovative solutions and value creation.
This initiative encouraged young people to take up agriculture as a rewarding career option, exposing them to successful youth agricultural entrepreneurs and existing agricultural innovations.”
The farmer organisation also hosted the Women in Agribusiness Forum, which brought together women entrepreneurs from various agricultural value chains, policymakers, business leaders, and financial institutions.
“This forum promoted equitable participation and created opportunities for women in agriculture, recognizing their pivotal role in advancing agricultural development. We have been working to improve agricultural productivity through various initiatives, including training programs and access to finance and markets.
“These efforts have helped farmers increase their productivity and competitiveness, contributing to the growth of Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector. Our success stories demonstrate our commitment to revitalizing Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector and ensuring a sustainable food future for the country,” Gwatiringa said.
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