Zimbabwean News You Can Trust
By Own Correspondent
Evans Dakwa
The visiting French Agricultural Research for Development (CIRAD) Chief Executive Officer (CEO)Elisabeth Claeverie de Saint Martin has singled out Zimbabwe for it’s rich biodiversity and commitment to science anchored by it’s incredible vibrant community despite challenges they may be facing.
Elisabeth made the remark on the occasion CIRAD’s 30th anniversary of working in Zimbabwe with the Zimbabwean people to provide and implement solutions that allow people to live better lives.
” Zimbabwe is one of the hotspots of biodiversity which means it has some species which are very rare and that we must not lose.The country is sitting on a mine of gold not only because you have mines but it has a quality of soils which are very good , the country could have wonderful agriculture,” said CEO Elisabeth.
She hailed the growth and fruitful cooperation between CIRAD and the people of Zimbabwe facilitated by the government as being very key to the successes of programs her organisation has implemented over the 30 years it has been in operation in the country.
” We have developed here very fruitful cooperation with results, with impact. We started (operating ) here with very few people now we have got an office of over 30 people covering different scientific fields. Focus has been on the conciliation of preservation of natural resources and the development of rural agriculture and livelihoods of people.”
As CIRAD marked 30 years in Zimbabwe, CEO Elisabeth took the opportunity to commit her organisaton’s existence in the country indicating that they are ready and open to more partnerships and supporting progressive ideas that improve the lives of people.
” We are definitely extending this relationship, starting from this entry point we had which was more on ecology and agriculture, we have invested in other issues like how we can prevent other diseases like COVID, we are extending a lot of cooperation on this issue with international financing and also from France. We are also extending our work on climate change as you know Zimbabwe will be one of the countries most affected by climate change especially concerning droughts , so their lots of things.”
She also hammered her organisaton’s desire to create a regional hub of cooperation centre making use of the infrastructure developed by CIRAD and the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) and create a scientific hub for regional scientist for the benefit of the region to develop wonderful agriculture for the future.
The French Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Laurent Chevallier was pleased with the work of CIRAD in Zimbabwe and the impact it’s programs has had over the past 30 years.
” I am very proud of the work of CIRAD in Zimbabwe and other French agencies in in the country,their actions are to be celebrated.Soon we will inaugurate a new laboratory at the University of Zimbabwe to strengthen research in animal and zoonatic diseases , very impressive and with international standards, CIRAD will also launch another program on biodiversity in the Hwange national Park, ” he said.
He thanked the Zimbabwean government and all partners for their cooperation and support to the French agencies in Zimbabwe making his work of fostering strong collaboration between France and Zimbabwe easier and engagements fruitful.