Turkey promotes agricultural development in Zimbabwe

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) - Turkey's state-run charity distributed seeds and fertilizers to poor farmers in Zimbabwe, an official said Monday.

“We distributed Maize seeds, fertilizer, herbicides as well as insecticides to support 80 farmers in Mashonaland West,’’ Lebohang Matsoso, an administrative assistant at the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) Pretoria office, told Anadolu Agency.

He said TIKA embarked on the project after it received a proposal from Zimbabwe requesting them to assist underprivileged families in local communities to grow maize, which is a staple food in Zimbabwe.

Matsoso said they supported the proposal because farming helps to increase food security in communities and also alleviates poverty.

He said the families they assisted live below the poverty line and the only way for them to make ends meet is through practicing subsistence farming.

Zimbabwean experts from the Ministry of Agriculture who were present at the event of handing over the agricultural products thanked TIKA for helping empower local communities and fighting hunger in Zimbabwe.

Despite being in operation in South Africa for just over two years, TIKA has undertaken several development projects in the region.

TIKA partnered with South African authorities in 2019 to help refurbish orphanages, particularly those for children born with HIV/AIDS.

They have also renovated mosques, hospitals among others.

Since its founding in 1992, TIKA has been responsible for facilitating Turkey’s official development assistance by providing help to developing countries.

TIKA currently is engaged in a variety of developmental cooperation activities in 150 countries through its 60 program coordination offices, including 20 in Africa.

Some of the projects it is tackling are in the fields of education, health, water, and sanitation.

Others include agricultural development, civil and economic infrastructure, restoration and tourism, among others.