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By Joyce Mukucha
Aiming to boost Zimbabwe’s agricultural production as well as improving the resilience of farmers by providing imperative information through internet connectivity, Cabinet has adopted smart agriculture programme.
Cabinet also adopted smart health programme which is aimed at avoiding hindrances when it comes to provision of much needed services in the sector.
The two programmes fall under the Smart Zimbabwe Masterplan, under which the country is pursuing the Vision 2030 goal of a digital economy.
Speaking during a post Cabinet meeting yesterday, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa said on the Smart Agriculture Programme, Cabinet appreciates that in order to fully realize Zimbabwe’s immense agricultural production potential, there is need to increase yield, quality and agro-value chain efficiencies through innovation based on digital technologies.
“Cabinet considered and adopted Reports on the Smart Agriculture Programme and the Smart Health Programme, as presented by the Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Honourable Jenfan Muswere.
“Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) including sensor systems, internet connectivity and artificial intelligence will enable agricultural data to be collected timeously and informed decisions to be made. In this regard, Government is currently developing the Agriculture Information Management System (AIMS) to monitor and manage agricultural activities,” she said.
Minister Mutsvangwa said, in 2021, a budget of ZW$ 200 million was provided to support the ICT-related requirements of the AIMS project, including provision of gadgets and internet connectivity to all of the country’s agricultural institutions.
The key components of the Agriculture Information Management System include assessment of crop threats which provides an early warning system to avert agricultural disasters and the associated low productivity.
“Land Information Management System to record and analyse agricultural land use and allocation; water Information System – to enable efficient management of water resources, with all water bodies having been already mapped; Inputs Supply System comprising automated inputs and output management, land soil fertility mapping by remote sensing/mobile apps; and livestock, On Farm, Post-Harvest, Agro-Processing, and Marketing and Consumption Information Management Systems.
“Implementation of the Agriculture Information Management System has the following positive impacts: remote interaction between farm owners, managers and workers in real-time; facilitating access to land and security of tenure; increased access to affordable agriculture financing; promoting effective agriculture knowledge, technology and innovation systems and lowering costs of production.
“It also leads to improved access to agricultural information; and increased income through reduced post-harvest losses and direct connection to agro-value chains,” Minister Mutsvangwa further explained.
Concerning the Smart Health Programme, Minister Mutsvangwa highlighted that Cabinet notes that the need for deployment of ICTs in delivering health services has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Smart health initiatives such as telemedicine have proved to be very effective in overcoming barriers to health care and ensuring timely provision of services. Zimbabwe has therefore embarked on an initiative to ensure that all facilities are connected countrywide. A telemedicine virtual system is also being rolled out.”
She also informed the nation that in partnership with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Government was implimenting a pilot tele-medicine project valued at US$357 632.
“The pilot project entails the use of ICTs to facilitate the provision of clinical health care using real-time two-way communication between physicians and patients at remote rural centres.
“A total of 15 health centres were equiped with state-of-the-art Transportable Examination Stations (TES) comprising high-resolution autofocus examination cameras, stethoscope, a Total Vital Signs test device, a laptop,ultrasound scan devices, electrocardiography (ECG) services and blood pressure cuffs,” she said.
All 15 centres, it has been highlighted, are linked to Parirenyatwa Referral Hospital, allowing for sharing of patient data and consultations with other referral healthcare institutions and the telemedicine solution is fully integrated to the Impilo Virtual Health System recently launched by the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
The Smart Health Programme will result in improved health service delivery and efficiencies;Improved health surveillance; Improved health-system and records management; Improved health education and clinical decision-making; and Support for behavioural changes related to public health priorities and disease management.
Furthermore, the Minister pointes out, the programme will have a plethora of benefits which include offering treatment to patients in the comfort of their homes, confidentiality of medical information, reduction in travelling costs to health facilities, high responsiveness to medical emergencies and reduced referrals, consultation fees and mortality rates.
“The Smart Health System will be able to be opened to similar international health systems when there is need. The nation is advised that scoping and development work has already started and should be completed during the National Development Strategy 1 period.”