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Authors:

Nienke Beintema, Percy Chipunza, and Lang Gao

Year:

2019

Publisher

International Food Policy Research Institute

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Key Trends

Economic stabilization after years of hyperinflation reinvigorated agricultural research investment from 2009, but economic downturn since 2015 once again threatens the country’s agricultural research funding.

The share of PhD-qualified researchers rose substantially during 2009–2016—from 12 to 23 percent—but this growth largely occurred in the higher education sector. The share of PhD-qualified researchers in the government sector remained very low (9 percent as of 2016).

DRSS and DVLS have traditionally experi- enced high staff turnover. In response, the government introduced restructuring in 2016 to increase capacity in some depart- ments and eliminate redundancy in others.

Current Challenges

Linkages and coordination within the national agricultural research system are weak, and the research-extension interface is not clearly defined to facilitate effective information dissemination. Policies also fail to encourage private participation.

Agricultural R&D in Zimbabwe is primarily funded by the government but is only sufficient to cover staff salaries and some operating expenses. Long-term funding constraints have caused a deterioration of research infrastructure, necessitating strategic investment for rehabilitation.

Government agricultural research agencies in Zimbabwe employ few scien- tists with PhD degrees. Many experienced staff members departed during 2000–2008 when hyperinflation deflated salary values. Thereafter, low salary levels impeded capacity building, and new recruits tend to be younger and less experienced.


Policy Options

Greater government allocations to operating and capital expenses are needed, as are other funding sources, particularly from the private sector. Capacity strengthening of technical staff is also required, potentially through public– private partnerships with regional and international research institutions.

Given the country’s limited resources, coordination by the Agricultural Research Council needs to be strengthened to prioritize and ensure the adequacy and relevance of the agricultural research agenda.

Research programs need to be developed with stakeholder input, targeting areas of greatest public good that are not already addressed by the private sector.