FAO contributes to agro tech in Zimbabwe by organizing digital fairs, increasing smart farming, market access, and rural transformation with the aid of AI-related mechanisms.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is leading change on agro tech in Zimbabwe by its Fostering Digital Villages Initiative (FDiVi). A digital fair that took place recently in Masvingo united farmers, agri-entrepreneurs, and digital service providers who got to experience new agro tech-tools.

The project will focus on increasing the agro tech in the agrifood systems by offering AI-based advisory services, mobile marketplaces and digital extension services. Being held in the Bikita district, the fair presented onboarding and engagement in digital agriculture technologies in real-time.

FAO Subregional Coordinator Patrice Talla explained the contribution of the fair to achieving the inclusive rural transformation and market access of youth and women. Officials in the district hailed this step as a good idea since rural innovation in any community can flourish by adopting digital technologies.

The FDiVi initiative is carried out in the Mhondoro-Ngezi district and the Bikita district, where digital hubs are built to assist the farmer and the agro-dealers with free internet access and training materials. The program encourages climate-smart cultivation and sustainable production.

Glocal farmer Sheunesu Njeke said AI tools transformed how he made his farm strategies. I will now be able to communicate with purchasers through my phone.”

FAO can enhance resilience through rural livelihoods with the intervention of agro tech by increasing resilience as well as the agricultural productivity of Zimbabwe.