Source: ‘Embrace technology to boost food security’ -Newsday Zimbabwe
SCIENTISTS say there is a need to embrace technology in response to climate change to boost food security.
Speaking at the ongoing international conference on academic excellence for leadership transformation and innovation in Africa at Africa University in Mutare, scientists said it was high time that scientific approaches were embraced in agriculture.
“As population increases outstrips the natural growth of agricultural crops, there is a need to embrace technology because it allows the farmers to produce sufficient quality crops on small pieces of land,” Chiurunge said.
The scientists said using emerging technologies in agriculture was important in protecting the environment since the farming methods would minimise the destruction or abuse of natural resources.
“Most children in Africa go to school without eating. This affects the IQ of the child. Malnutrition is also a threat to adults as it has the potential to reduce the life cycle and immunity,” Okito said.
Okito also said emerging technologies were not only confined to the growing of crops, but includes post-harvest protection of the crops.
In September, the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) Food and Nutrition Security Committee said an estimated 55 million people are food insecure, and around 19 million children under five years are malnourished.
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