Govt & Pvt Sector Urged To Cooperate And Invest In Measures To Reduce Future Droughts

Vangelis Haritatos, Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement, has urged the government and the private sector to work together towards evasion of future droughts.

Speaking at the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) annual general meeting held in Harare last week, Harotatos said:

As you are aware, we are meeting after a season characterised by prolonged dry spells during the months of January and February in many parts of the country. In March the Cyclone Idai-induced floods hit Manicaland, Mashonaland, Mashonaland East and Masvingo Provinces. These disasters go on to demonstrate that our production and food security capacity are vulnerable to the evolving climate changes. This led to the decline in production of major food and export crops.

The seed, fertiliser and chemical supply and infrastructure constraints are being addressed on a priority basis. It is therefore clear that Government and private sector must cooperate in boosting investment and spend more on creating agricultural productive assets especially expansion of irrigation to mitigate against future droughts.

Zimbabwe is expecting severe starvation as a result of the El Nino induced drought and cyclone Idai which also destroyed crops, particularly in Manicaland and Masvingo. Recently, the Tanzanian president, John Magufuli agreed to sell grain to Zimbabwe.

More: The Herald