Zim unlocks new agric markets

Source: Zim unlocks new agric markets – herald

Theseus Mauruki Shambare in VICTORIA FALLS

ZIMBABWE is deepening regional agricultural cooperation with South Africa and Tanzania as the three countries move to strengthen trade corridors, coordinate food security strategies and unlock new markets under the Sadc framework.

The engagements followed bilateral meetings held on the sidelines of the Sadc Joint Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Agriculture, Food Security, Fisheries and Aquaculture, currently underway in Victoria Falls.

Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Dr Anxious Masuka said discussions with South Africa and Tanzania focused on structured cooperation through Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), agricultural trade, technology exchange and regional food security.

“Meeting with the Minister of South Africa, we were discussing the upcoming Bi-National Commission and issues of mutual bilateral interest,” said Dr Masuka.

“First among them was, of course, the consummation and finalisation of a memorandum of understanding that has been outstanding for a while. We committed to complete this process before the BNC in July.”

Dr Masuka said the discussions with South Africa also centred on harmonising regional responses to Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), which continues to threaten livestock trade across the region.

“We discussed the ravaging scourge of foot and mouth disease in the SADC region, but more importantly in our two countries and the need to collaborate and harmonise our control strategy so that we could begin trade in livestock,” he said.

South African Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen said the strengthening of bilateral trade relations between Harare and Pretoria was critical to regional food security and economic resilience.

“We are neighbours. There is already existing trade that takes place between us and we look forward to deepening and widening that particular relationship,” he said.

Mr Steenhuisen said both countries stood to benefit from closer cooperation in grain trade, particularly in maize and wheat production.

“We are both maize-producing countries, we are both wheat-producing countries, but we also from time to time need to import these commodities,” he said.

“I think it makes sense to be able to, when Zimbabwe has great harvests, that we are able to import from South Africa’s side, and when we have great harvests and there is a need in Zimbabwe, that we are able to open up those channels.”

Zimbabwe also held bilateral talks with Tanzania focused on expanding trade and agricultural cooperation.

Dr Masuka said Harare and Dodoma had identified tobacco and rice production as strategic areas for collaboration.

“Tanzania is the second biggest producer of flue-cured tobacco on the African continent after Zimbabwe,” he said.

“And they, like us, are also suffering from the reduction in prices. We discussed joint efforts to ensure that we protect our growers and that tobacco production becomes viable and sustainable.”

The two countries also explored the possibility of increased rice exports from Tanzania to Zimbabwe as Harare seeks to strengthen regional food supply chains.

“We spoke about rice production and perhaps export to Zimbabwe because we import 99 percent of what we consume,” said Dr Masuka.

The engagements come as Sadc intensifies efforts to accelerate food systems transformation, strengthen resilience and promote regional integration through agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture.

Regional ministers are also expected to deliberate on rising fertiliser and fuel costs, animal disease outbreaks and strategies for improving intra-African agricultural trade as part of broader efforts to strengthen food and nutrition security across Southern Africa.