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Zimbabwe: Govt in Drive to Enhance Food Security
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 Published by the government of Zimbabwe |
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The Herald (Harare)
23 July 2008
Posted to the web 23 July 2008
Harare
GOVERNMENT is set to declare rice and potatoes as staple food in addition to maize as the country seeks to enhance food security.
In an interview, the Minister of Agricultural Engineering, Mechanisation and Irrigation, Cde Joseph Made, said his ministry and other stakeholders were working on classifying the two crops staple.
"We have realised that there is need to add two more major crops to the existing maize, sorghum and other cereals.
"A draft document to encourage rice production among interested small and large-scale farmers has already been developed.
"For us to achieve this, there is need to resuscitate irrigation schemes and come up with new ways as irrigation is vital in commercial rice production," he said.
He said the mechanisation programme was also an added advantage as farmers had some of the necessary equipment to carry out production of the two crops.
Rice combining, he said, was now possible as farmers were being given combine harvesters.
"What is critical is maintaining and suiting machinery and equipment for the production of the two crops," he said.
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Cde Made said his ministry was working with experts from traditional rice-producing countries such as China, India, Iran and Egypt.
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