Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development , Prof Dr Obert Jiri, has called for stronger links between agricultural research and commercial production to drive Zimbabwe’s agricultural transformation.
Speaking at the DRESS mid-term review meeting in Harare, Prof Jiri said agricultural development must be guided by credible research and reliable data.
“Every agricultural response, from climate change and emerging technologies to production and policy, must be grounded in credible research and data,” he said.
Prof Jiri said Zimbabwe’s 19 agricultural research centres were an important source of knowledge and innovation needed to address challenges facing the sector.
He urged researchers to become more innovative and visible on scientific platforms while ensuring that their work produces practical solutions for farmers and the wider agricultural industry.
“Researchers must be vibrant, innovative and visible on scientific platforms, turning evidence into solutions that move agriculture forward,” he said.
Prof Jiri said the next step was to move beyond research and focus on commercialising innovations that could benefit the agricultural sector.
He said Government researchers, universities and the private sector should work together to develop, protect and commercialise innovations that address real industry challenges.
“The next frontier is research-driven commercialisation: moving from scientific research to market-ready goods and services,” Prof Jiri said.
He added that successful commercialisation of research could generate revenue, improve research infrastructure and contribute to the modernisation of Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector.
“Research must not sit in laboratories, it must lead, innovate and deliver,” he said.
