By Delicious Mathuthu
Harare – Zimbabwe has agreed to mentor South Sudan in the agricultural sector following the newest east African nation’s high profile delegation jetting into the country on Wednesday (17/07/2024) for bilateral talks.
Led by South Sudanese Member of Parliament, Hon. Betty Achan Ogwaro, the delegation said their nation has vast virgin land and livestock resources which Zimbabwe can exploit to strengthen economic ties between the two nations through partnerships, and sharing of expertise in the sector.
“Sudan has vast tracts of virgin land and significant livestock resources, making it an ideal destination for Zimbabwean investment.
“We are excited about the prospects of this partnership and look forward to learning from Zimbabwe’s successes,” she said.
Ministry of Agriculture, Land, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development (MALFWaRD) says the Sudanese government’s mission is to copy Zimbabwe’s successful models to boost its own agricultural productivity and financial systems supporting the sector.
“The collaboration marks a promising start to deeper economic ties between the two nations, with agriculture at the forefront.
“As both countries share knowledge and resources, this initiative is expected to enhance food security and economic stability in the region,” the Ministry said through its social media platform on Facebook.
MALFWaRD Permanent Secretary, Professor Obert Jiri, welcomed the delegation saying Zimbabwe is ready to invest in South Sudan, share its expertise and experiences in the agricultural sector.
“Zimbabwe has made substantial strides in
agriculture and we are eager to extend our
knowledge and support to South Sudan. We see this as an opportunity for mutual growth and development,” he said.
The delegation’s main interest expressed during the visit is in
agriculture financing and how Zimbabwe’s financial institutions, working with government, are supporting farmers in agricultural development.
South Sudan’s focus on agriculture is an attempt by the east African country to move away from solely relying on oil exports.
Agriculture is the backbone of the Zimbabwean economy despite it currently contributing between 11 and 14 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product, accounting for about 45 percent of exports.
Zimbabwe recently became one of the only two African countries to be wheat self-sufficient, along with Ethiopia, after heavy investment in winter wheat production and irrigation infrastructure revival.
Despite drought threats such as the recent El Nino phenomena, several government programs such as pfumvudza/Intwasa, Command Agriculture and Farm Mechanisation, among others, have helped turn around Zimbabwe’s Agricultural sector which South Sudan seeks to tape in to.
Front row second from left: Hon. Betty Achan Ogwaro.
Second from right front row: Prof. Obert Jiri
