Staff reporter
Zimbabwe’s diplomatic horizons are expanding as it prepares to partake in the South Korea-Africa Summit, marking a significant milestone in strengthening the two countries’ bilateral relations. Scheduled for June 4th to 5th, 2024, in Seoul, this summit offers a crucial opportunity for Africa to enhance its trade relations with South Korea, particularly focusing on economic cooperation and agricultural development.
According to a source, within the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, this summit represents a pivotal opportunity for Zimbabwe to bolster its economic ties with South Korea and foster mutually beneficial partnerships across various sectors. “As we prepare to engage with South Korea at the summit, the aim is to explore avenues for collaboration, enhance trade relations and pave the way for sustained economic growth and development,” said the source.
The source also emphasized that the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development intends to leverage the summit to hold sideline meetings, particularly with South Korean Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Miryung Song, to discuss critical issues such as food security and nutrition.
“By engaging with South Korea and other international partners, Zimbabwe aims to bolster its agricultural sector, enhance food security, and reduce reliance on rice imports. Through such collaborations, Zimbabwe is poised to contribute to its economic growth and development, paving the way for a more sustainable and self-sufficient future, said the source.”
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe has witnessed a significant surge in rice consumption over the past decade, climbing up from 10,000 metric tonnes per year to a current annual consumption of 120,000 metric tonnes. The majority of this demand is met through imports, accounting for over 70 percent of Zimbabwe's rice consumption. However, South Korea's commitment to African agriculture through the launch of US$80 million South Korea-Africa Rice Belt Project in July 2023, will most likely elevate rice production in Africa and more importantly in Zimbabwe for a more self-sustainable rice production process by using high-yield South Korean rice seed varieties and advanced agricultural technologies.
This proactive approach by Zimbabwe follows a recent meeting between Vice President Chiwenga and Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Yamanaka Shinichi in February. During this meeting, collaborative efforts under the New Rice for Africa (NERICA) initiative were discussed where NERICA aims to introduce resilient rice seed varieties, capable of withstanding drought and diseases, thus boosting rice production across Africa.
