By MKHOKHELI ZIBENGWA
Agricultural cooperation between Indonesia and Zimbabwe received a major boost today following a courtesy call by the Indonesian Ambassador to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development, Professor Obert Jiri.
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The meeting centred on strengthening the long-standing partnership between the two countries through the introduction of advanced livestock technologies, including Embryo Transfer programmes and the planned establishment of an Artificial Insemination Centre of Excellence in Masvingo.
Officials said the proposed centre is expected to play a critical role in improving livestock breeding systems and boosting the quality of cattle herds across the country.
The new initiatives build on existing cooperation that has already seen the successful introduction of elite Indonesian cattle breeds into Zimbabwe’s livestock sector. Among the breeds already integrated into the local herd are Simmental, Limousin and Brahman, which are being used to improve national beef and dairy production.
Speaking during the briefing, Permanent Secretary Prof. Dr. Obert Jiri said there was significant potential for skills development within the agricultural sector.
“We have almost 6,000 lower-level people whom we want to be upgraded,” said Prof. Jiri, underscoring the need for expanded training and technical support.
Beyond livestock production, discussions also explored cooperation in crop science and post-harvest processing. Both sides identified avocado and corn as priority sectors for future collaboration, with plans to strengthen technical capacity and improve value addition.
The two countries further discussed the development of agricultural infrastructure in Masvingo and the provision of scholarships for Zimbabwean students to study agriculture-related fields in Indonesia.
Officials said the visit reflects a shared commitment to sustainable food security, agricultural innovation and the modernization of Zimbabwe’s agricultural value chain.