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GOVERNMENT has urged media practitioners to positively report on the development programmes it is rolling out across the country including strides being made in the agriculture sector to ensure all Zimbabweans are informed about the progress being made.

In a keynote address at the 4th annual Zimbabwe Agricultural Media Awards (Zama) held in Harare on Friday, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Deputy Minister Vangelis Haritatos who was representing Dr Anxious Masuka commended the media for playing a critical role in covering the agriculture.

The awards recognised journalists who have complemented Government in its agenda and have excelled in reporting developments in the agricultural sector.

“As you may know the past few years have been great years in agriculture as Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector experienced a transformation that it has never experienced before,” he said.

“A milestone example is that for the first time since independence, our country produced a record 373 131 metric tonnes of wheat last season against a national requirement of 360 000 metric tonnes, making Zimbabwe alongside Ethiopia, the only two countries in Africa that are wheat self-sufficient.

“Secondly the 2023/24 summer crop and livestock season already looks promising owing largely to efforts that all players in the sector have made to make agriculture thrive once more and anchor our economic recovery and growth. Our success is largely owed to the robust 4th estate that has been broadcasting and telling our success stories to Africa and the world,” said Deputy Minister Haritatos.

President Mnangagwa recently headlined the Alliance for Green Revolution Forum in Rwanda where he outlined strategies the country has employed to combat climate change and improve food production and self-sufficiency.

Since the turn of the century, Zimbabwe has often been subjected to the negative press by the international media, hence it is important that media practitioners covering the agriculture sector tell local stories in a patriotic and accurate manner, said the Deputy Minister.

“As we celebrate the largely successful calendar year that the sector has enjoyed, we are also celebrating you our champions who amplify our works to the public. As you may know, the past few years have been great years in agriculture as Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector experienced a transformation that it has never experienced before,” he said.

“The agricultural sector relies on media for information dissemination in e-extension services and advisory services, and improving awareness in rural development.”

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Minister Monica Mutsvangwa who was also represented by Deputy Minister Kindness Paradza said Zimbabwe’s success story cannot be told without agriculture strides.

“These good agriculture yields are attributed to the Second Republic’s initiatives such as the highly successful Pfumvudza/Intwasa, the Presidential inputs programme, timely inputs distribution, constant supply of key utilities such as power and fuel to farmers and crowding-in the private and financial services sectors as enunciated in the Agriculture Recovery Plan,” said the minister.

“There is a need for the media to play their critical role of facilitating agricultural information collection and dissemination to citizens. I urge the media fraternity to continue sharpening their pens and influence positive improvements in the coverage of agriculture-related programmes. This agricultural story must continue to be a perennial topical issue.”

Zimbabwe Agricultural Society (ZAS) president Mr Ngoni Kudenga said they will continue to give value and provide a networking platform where the media, agriculture value chains enterprises, and the Government will meet to ensure the growth of the agriculture sector which anchors Government’s Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).