Bilateral meeting with H.E. Anxious Jongwe, Minister for Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development of the Republic of Zimbabwe

Rome – The FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu, met with His Excellency Anxious Jongwe, Minister for Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development of the Republic of Zimbabwe, on the margins of the 44th Session of the FAO Ministerial Conference at FAO Headquarters.

The Director-General welcomed the Minister and acknowledged the longstanding and strategic relationship between FAO and Zimbabwe. He expressed gratitude for the continuous support extended by the Government of Zimbabwe to the Organization over the years. The Director-General reaffirmed FAO's commitment to strengthening cooperation in all areas of food security and production.

Minister Jongwe thanked the Director-General for the warm welcome and the support provided by FAO in creating the Zimbabwe Room at FAO headquarters. He expressed his gratitude for the Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) support for rural development in the country, particularly for establishing fishponds with solar-powered drip points. The Minister informed that Zimbabwe is expecting a surplus wheat crop with FAO's support and thanked the Director-General for assistance with the soil health observation programme using satellite technology. The Minister highlighted they would be needing further assistance from FAO for soil mapping to advise farmers on optimal crop production, emphasizing the importance of rural development for improving the livelihoods of farmers and rural communities.

The Director-General noted that the required technical assistance on soil mapping would be provided, including in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the African Union (AU) on soil mapping. He thanked the Minister for the establishment of the Zimbabwe Room and reaffirmed FAO's commitment to supporting and collaborating with Zimbabwe to improve agrifood systems and food security. The Director-General emphasized FAO's pivotal role in enhancing agrifood systems and prioritizing food security across the African continent, considering the ongoing food insecurity challenges.

The Minister reaffirmed his government's commitment to support FAO's work both nationally and regionally. The meeting ended with the signing of the Contribution Agreement for the establishment of the Zimbabwe Lounge.