Agriculture Reporter
A Cuban delegation is in the country to seek areas of co-operation in veterinary, animal husbandry and crop production.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Joseph Made welcomed the delegation and said efforts by the Cuban delegation to work with Zimbabwe were a sign of an intensification of relations between the two countries in agriculture.
“Relations have been there and we have been exchanging knowledge and expertise on different areas in agriculture,” said Minister Made.
“We have several technical people who have been trained in Cuba working in our institutions and even in the private sector such as the sugar industry.”
Minister Made said the technical expertise from Cuba should be used to enhance food security and nutrition.
“Cuba is renowned for dairy production with the famous President Fidel Castro who had a dairy cow that produced 84 litres of milk per day and this was critical in feeding children,” he said.
Minister Made said the expertise should be expanded to other areas such as soil fertility that were critical in crop and animal production.
Cuba also specialises in citrus, banana, sugarcane and bio-fertilisers production.
The two parties are expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding before the delegation departs during the weekend.
A comprehensive Cuban technical team is also expected to visit Zimbabwe to have an appreciation of the environment to assist in the implementation of the projects.
Cuban head of delegation and representative for Africa Project Mr Felix Pulido said Cuba was interested in technological exchange and transfer with Zimbabwe.
He said this was necessary considering the historical relations between the two countries and the high level of education of Zimbabweans.
“We came to seek areas of co-operation where we can immediately start working,” said Mr Pulido. “We are willing to work with Government and the private sector in the area of agriculture.”