CHINA'S ambassador to Zimbabwe, Zhou Ding, has reaffirmed the country's commitment to enhancing agricultural investment and cooperation with Zimbabwe.
Speaking during the Zvimba district poultry and rabbits handover ceremony in Mashonaland West recently, Ding also said they were committed to improve Zimbabwe's agricultural infrastructure.
"China has completed more than 1 000 boreholes across the country in recent years, providing access to clean drinking water for more than 400 000 people," he said.
"In the next two years, China will drill an additional 300 boreholes in Zimbabwe."
China has also built the Valley Dam and irrigation projects for Zimbabwe, which have promoted local agricultural production.
"China is committed to strengthening agricultural investment and cooperation with Zimbabwe. Chinese companies kept entering the agricultural sector in Zimbabwe," he noted.
"China’s Tian Ze Tobacco Company has been carrying out contract farming and exporting more than US$700 million tobacco to China annually.
"China is now the biggest buyer of Zimbabwean tobacco as half of Zimbabwe’s tobacco production has been exported to China."
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Wanjin Agricultural Development Company, has long been dedicated to the agricultural sector in Mashonaland West.
China also imports huge amounts of macadamia nuts and fresh citrus from Zimbabwe and is negotiating the agreement on importing avocados from Zimbabwe.
"China is committed to supporting Zimbabwean people to achieve food security. Zimbabwe has been hit by a severe El Nino drought this year, which has left a large number of people food insecure," the ambassador said.
"China has provided Zimbabwe with two batches of emergency food assistance valued around US$6 million in the past 12 months. Over the past 20 years, China has delivered over ten shipments of food assistance supplies to Zimbabwe.
"The food assistance has supported Zimbabwe to address its pressing needs and spare millions of people from the threat of food shortages."
Ding also said the Asian giant was committed to carrying out technology transfer.
During the ceremony, Raymeg Consultants Private Limited donated 50 pure rabbit breeds to the Zvimba Farmers Cooperative Club.
The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Mashonaland West, Miriam Chombo, applauded the Chinese government for the projects.
"This brings safe drinking water to the community thereby curbing spread of water borne diseases such as cholera which has proved to be a menace," she said.
"With the provision of water, I urge the community here to develop nutrition gardens make use of vegetable seeds distributed under the government programmes, so as to be able to feed their families as well as have extra income from sale of these vegetables."
