TENDAI BHEBE IN BULAWAYO
President Emmerson Mnangagwa says the Lupane State University (LSU) in Matabeleland North Province should complement government efforts in providing solutions to climate change and economic development in a bid to improve food security in the province.
He said this during the official opening of the LSU dry land – agro innovation hub and industrial park last week.
“It [climate change] affects everybody. We must find ways to mitigate it (climate change) and even live better under it.
“In the context of the development philosophy of leaving no one and no place behind the Lupane State University Dry Land Agro-Innovation Hub and Industrial Park should complement efforts towards the implementation of the devolution agenda,” Mnangagwa said.
Zimbabwe has been taking comprehensive steps to mitigate the adverse impact of climate change, which is increasingly becoming a threat to ordinary people’s livelihoods and national economy.
Mnangagwa said irrigation projects that were mushrooming in the country were a result of government efforts to deal with climate change.
“Irrigation projects that are mushrooming in the country are a result of our realisation that climate change is upon us and we need to produce our own food by even tapping into indigenous knowledge of preserving crops,” he said.
Mnangagwa said the park would ensure access to good nutrition all year round.
“This must provide knowledge based solutions to meet societal concerns, priorities and aspirations in the economic development plan processes at village level and at ward district levels hence the facility should be developed in the province.
“This park will provide products for Matabeleland North Province as a whole and ensure access to good nutrition all year round and also tape into indigenous systems and blend it with science and innovation such that it becomes key to agro business as they change the mindset of all small holder farmers and shift from subsistence farming to business entities,” he said.
