‘Invest in climate-friendly technologies’
THE District Development Fund (DDF) has launched a free tillage scheme expected to benefit up to 62 000 vulnerable families in the rural and resettlement areas of Mashonaland West.
The programme is being implemented in partnership with the Brazil More Food for Africa initiative.
This comes as most farmers in the province lost draught power to tick- borne diseases such as Theileriosis, commonly known as January disease.
The few families with donkeys have turned to them for draught power, while those that lost the entire cattle herd and did not own donkeys are grounded.
Many farmers have not yet prepared their fields in the absence of draught power.
The DDF scheme, which has been welcomed by many villagers, targets 31 000 hectares.
Each farmer will have half a hectare tilled for free by the DDF using about 65 tractors under the Brazil More Food for Africa programme that have been committed towards the free tillage programme in Mashonaland West.
DDF has committed extra tractors for the scheme, and is in the process of repairing broken down implements and tractors to provide more tillage for vulnerable households.
Addressing villagers during the launch of the DDF tillage programme at Magogi, Makonde District, on Sunday, Acting Director in the office of the Minister of State for Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs, Mr Douglas Chiwiro, said the tillage programme will boost yields.
He said the programme will also promote the Presidential Input Scheme by availing draught power to vulnerable farmers.
“This scheme is meant to assist vulnerable people and households in rural and resettlement areas with sufficient agriculture inputs and equipment that will assist
ZIMBABWE should invest more in climate friendly technologies to address loss and damage from both the slow onset of the rains and extreme weather patterns, a Government official has said.
This was said by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Munesu Munodawafa at launch of the Adaptation Fund National Implementation Entity of the Environmental Management Agency on Monday.
“Climate change has affected weather conditions at all scales. Strengthening the ability to adapt to these changes in a way that mitigates hazards and risks to humans and the environment is vital for sustainable development and for the survival of communities,” he said.
“Different forms of climate- friendly technologies need to be employed, with early warning systems that combine hard measuring devices with soft knowledge and skills that can raise awareness and stimulate appropriate action to disasters.”
Mr Munodawafa said the country should them in their various agricultural projects,” said Mr Chiwiro.
“The objective of this programme is to ensure food and nutrition security in our households, which we expect to cascade down to the national level. implement climate-friendly technologies to mitigate environmental related disasters.
“As a Nation, we are confronted by a reality that compels us to invest far more on adaptation, ensure investment in climate friendly technologies, and addressing loss and damage from both slow onset and extreme weather events.
“Without urgent adaptation and action, we risk undermining food, energy, and water security for decades to come. We have to develop strategies for our people who rely on water, agriculture, environment, energy among other sectors to adapt to climate change,” he said.
He said Government is investing more in adaptation and mitigation impacts of climate change with a vision of creating a climate resilient nation.
“We need interdisciplinary work across sectoral frontiers. I am pleased to say that, the Adaptation Fund projects and related projects will be among the examples of such initiatives being coordinated by my Ministry through the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) and Climate Change Management Department with financial support from the Adaptation
“This initiative will boost the farmers’ yields and our national food and nutrition security will be guaranteed.”
He said Government has implemented a number of initiatives to sustain vulnerable groups of people around the country, which
Fund.
“As the ministry, we have crafted the National Climate Change Response Strategy for Zimbabwe, the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) document which guides the country on adapting and mitigating the impacts of climate change with a vision of creating a climate resilient nation.
“My ministry is finalising development of a Low Emission Development Strategy (LEDS) and the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) which are important documents to guide our efforts towards a Low carbon and climate resilient development,” said Mr Munodawafa.
EMA has been accredited as a National Implementing Entity to the Adaptation Fund, an initiative that will indisputably advance the quality of life for communities who are vulnerable to climate change.
The accreditation means that EMA is now eligible to directly accessing climate financing from the Adaptation Fund to the tune of up to US$5 million to enable the country to implement concrete climate change adaptation and resilience building projects. include the Command Agriculture Scheme, the Presidential Inputs Scheme as well as the tillage programme.
Mr Chiwiro also urged farmers to desist from selling seed and fertiliser from the Presidential Inputs Scheme.