Province to ramp up rice production

ZIMBABWE is exploring ways of strengthening its food security status by increasing
production of rice locally Japans envoy, Ambassador Satoshi Tanaka, and a rice expert from
the same country touring a rice experiment plot at Panmure Research Station, a Government
Farm on Thursday.
Ambassador Tanaka and Dr Tatsushi Tsuboi, an expert in New Rice for Africa (NERICA)
assessed the prospects of introducing commercial rice cultivation in Zimbabwe.
NERICA has been developed through cross-breeding African rice species that are resistant to
disease and drought, with high-yield Asian rice species with the support from Japan.
At the moment, Zimbabwe imports an estimated 80 percent of the rice it consumes and Dr
Tsuboi’s visit was to lay the groundwork for large-scale rice production. Mashonaland
Central Province is in a region that receives adequate rainfall annually.
Dr Tsuboi, who last visited the country 16 years ago and toured several areas, told The
Herald last week: “We checked the country’s rainfall patterns and temperatures and
discovered that rainfall in November to March is suitable for rice production and the
temperatures will be high.”
He has offered to transfer his vast knowledge in rice production through a “train the trainer”
programme and farmer capacity building.
During the visit to Panmure Research Station last Thursday, Dr Tsuboi told delegates that the
rice project was a joint venture between the two countries initiated by First Lady, Dr Amai
Auxilia Mnangagwa, and run by development partner, Japan International Cooperation
Agency (JICA).
The joint venture seeks to study soils, irrigation and other infrastructure, water supply, pests
and diseases and ascertain the suitability aspects, with a view to doubling Africa's rice
production by 2030 under TICAD (Tokyo International Conference on African Development)
sponsorship.
The Ambassador's entourage included JICA officials, representatives from the Agronomy
Research Institute, Department of Research and Specialist Services and head of Crop
Breeding Institute, Faith Mavhangeni.
Provincial Agriculture Extension Officer, Misheck Chitokomere, District Agriculture
Extension Officer, Lovemore Kahari, District Development Co-ordinator, Clever Machekera,
Chaminuka Rural District Council acting CEO, Fungisai Chihwayi, councillors and
Government officials attended the function. – ZIS