Guarding Our Lands: Ministry Prioritizes Plant Import Permit Policy

By Ilyana Sithole

The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development has emphasized the significance of plant import permit rules in guarding Zimbabwe’s rich agricultural industry. This follows as the Plant Quarantine Services Institute (PQSI), an important department of the Ministry, continues its focused efforts in keeping the country’s plant resources healthy and safe.

As the Ministry pointed out in a recent update, the PQSI’s Plant Import Regulation and International Liaison unit is leading the charge here. This specialist unit does not stop working to get Zimbabwe’s import conditions up to international standards, a forward-thinking step that is necessary for keeping out injurious pests and diseases that could wreak havoc on local crops and ecosystems. They not only maintain the well-being of plants but also provide free and secure international trade in farm produce.

Through its robust decentralized infrastructure of more than 40 substations strategically distributed throughout the country, PQSI has a highly efficient countrywide coverage. Such extensive coverage makes it possible for the institute to effectively track imports and exports from factories, carry out important periodic inspections, and enforce all the applicable legislative provisions rigorously. Such surveillance at different entry and exit points is one of the cornerstone pillars of Zimbabwe’s biosecurity program.

Planning for the future, PQSI has purchased the newest technology to assist in improving its effectiveness and delivery. Head of PQSI Mrs. Louisa Nyagwaya Makumbe provided thrilling news on this undertaking. “We are coming up with an electronic permit management system and implementing it in Zimbabwe’s Electronic Single Window,” she reported. “This digital revolution will place the otherwise time-consuming documentation and management processes involved in phytosanitary services online for ready availability and convenience.”

Mrs. Makumbe pinpointed the advantage of this technology revolution by assuring that it would “enable efficient and convenient access to permits, significantly reducing bureaucracy and ultimately enhancing trade facilitation.” Being committed to getting the best out of technology is also a testament to PQSI’s commitment to facilitating the development and prosperity of Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector and national economy as a whole.

The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, through PQSI, invites all stakeholders to come together to support safe trade practices and protect Zimbabwe’s valuable agriculture sector collectively. Adopting the regulations of plant imports and embracing the digital transformation that is underway, from where it is currently located, Zimbabwe can improve its biosecurity, ensure food security, and develop sustainable agriculture.

#PlantQuarantine #DigitalTransformation in Plant Quarantine Services #Agriculture #Zimbabwe #SafeTrade #PlantHealth #foodsecurity