JICA Rice Expert Continues to Strive for Increasing Rice Production in Zimbabwe

November was a busy month for JICA Rice Expert, Dr. Tatsushi Tsuboi, who was in the country conducting rice training workshops and carrying out ‘on farm rice demos’ at farmers’ fields and various research stations across the country.

From November 6 to 9, Dr. Tsuboi conducted theory and practical rice training workshops at the Department of Agriculture, Research, Innovation and Development (ARID), formerly the Department of Research and Specialist Services (DR&SS) in Harare. The ARID Deputy Director of Livestock Research, Ms. Nyasha Rugweta lauded the training for being gender inclusive, to pave way for women champions in rice production in Zimbabwe. A total of 42 Rice Researchers, Extension Officers and members of the academic fraternity were trained and afforded opportunities to ask questions in general and pertaining to challenges being faced in rice research and production.

The workshop was also graced by Ms. Fukuyo Nakamori, who is a former member of the House of Representatives (Japan) and the Chairperson of Asia Pacific Africa Women’s Economic Exchange Association. She encouraged the participants to value such workshops and to put to maximum use the knowledge gained, in order to increase rice production in Zimbabwe.

Speaking at the training workshop, JICA Zimbabwe Resident Representative, Mr. Shigeki Furuta emphasized the importance of rice production in Zimbabwe, given that rice is a strategic crop as influenced by the changes in lifestyle and the need for diversification. He highlighted that increasing rice production has great potential to assure food security, hunger reduction and poverty alleviation in the country.

Following the training at ARID, Dr. Tsuboi, together with 4 Rice Researchers and JICA staff, visited the Peri-urban, Southern and Eastern parts of the country to conduct rice training and planting of rice demos. He equipped Researchers, Extension Officers, Academicians, and Farmers with vast knowledge, which included planting methods, weeding and disease management, weather data analysis and how to increase rice production to meet national rice demand. In addition, he distributed some rice seed and rice handbooks to ensure continuity of rice production, post the training.

Overall, Dr. Tsuboi’s trip was very fruitful and contributes towards making rice production a success story in Zimbabwe. The farmers were very grateful and welcomed the initiative to promote rice production in the country. They said that growing rice will increase their income and change their livelihoods. Going forward, ARID, supported by JICA, will continue with this initiative to ensure food self-sufficiency through rice production at farmers household levels.