The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
AGRICULTURE is becoming increasingly tech-driven and farmers need to be equipped with the relevant knowledge and skills to use emerging technologies to help grow their farming enterprises, a senior Government has said.
Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development’s Permanent Secretary, Dr John Basera said farming is undergoing technological transformation that should help farmers improve sustainability, efficiency and profitability of their businesses.
He cited the recent acquisition of nine drones by his ministry as an inherent desire to shift from traditional to precision farming.
Drones are known to provide accurate field mapping data, which allows farmers to spot inconsistencies such as wet and dry areas in the field.
Precision agriculture is a farming management concept based on observing, measuring and responding to inter and intra-field variability in crops.
It uses information technology to ensure that crops and the soil receive exactly what they need for optimum health and productivity while ensuring profitability, sustainability and protection of the environment.
Dr Basera said despite Zimbabwe’s strong position in agricultural production, there is still room for growth in terms of digital innovation.
Digital tools provide up-to-date information on environmental conditions that can potentially threaten crop health, and agriculturalists can use those insights to react accordingly.
“One of the milestones in the National Development Strategy (NDS1) is building community resilience, and this can be achieved through improved production and income generation,” he said.
Dr Basera said precision farming systems can increase yields and profitability.
He said new technologies in agriculture, investments on research and development, coupled with efforts to rejuvenate irrigation facilities, is changing the face of agriculture in Manicaland.
Dr Basera said the demand for land is high, adding that 99 percent of all the State land is occupied.
He said exercise to identify derelict farms is still in its infancy (seven percent), and implored farmers to enter into joint ventures.
Manicaland has 26 000 land seekers on its waiting list.
Rural development expert, Professor Joseph Kamuzhanje said some challenges currently bedevilling agriculture can be eliminated with the adoption of technology.
He said technology can also help address issues of double allocation of land, multi-farm ownership, boundary disputes and derelict land.
“Agriculture should be done scientifically. It is a science involving rainfall, temperature, soil profiles, texture and acidity, etcetera; all these need a scientific opinion.
“The use of science and technology is therefore a key ingredient in farming. Agriculture is moving towards precision, and the days of generalising interventions and developing generic solutions are over. The use of satellites, GPS, GIS is now the new normal. With these technologies, it is possible to isolate a problem and deal with it exclusively,” he said.
Professor Kamuzhanje said in some countries, drones are being used to supply inputs and carry out diagnostics for both crops and livestock.
“The technology is completely dependent on accuracy and precision of location.
This can also help on debt recovery and dealing with delinquent behaviour among farmers. You can also support farmers who are doing well by giving them targeted assistance.
“This technology is part of not only making agriculture scientific, but also precise. Daily there are new advancements. We need to have the necessary infrastructure, from electricity, mobile phone connectivity, good roads and a reliable transport system to make it work,” said Professor Kamuzhanje.
