Exchange Alumni Summit: Proactive Steps Toward Sustainable Farming

The Southern Africa U.S. Exchange Alumni Summit 2025 is currently underway in Victoria Falls, bringing together alumni from various exchange programs to collaborate on innovative solutions to global challenges.

Held under the theme “Advancing Sustainable Solutions to Global Challenges,” the summit features a series of panel discussions focused on key socio-economic and environmental issues. Among the key topics explored are financing entrepreneurship and sustainable agricultural practices.

One of the discussions centered on addressing food security challenges, with a particular focus on smallholder farmers. Experts and alumni shared insights on improving agricultural sustainability, enhancing access to financing, and leveraging technology to support small-scale farming communities.

Panelist Mr. Akufuna from Zambia highlighted smart agriculture as a key sustainable practice, defining it as the ability to grow anything anywhere. He emphasized the importance of collaboration, especially in the face of climate change, referencing the severe drought that recently affected Zambia, Zimbabwe, and other parts of the African region.

Mr. Akufuna urged alumni to be proactive rather than reactive in addressing climate-related disasters such as droughts and cyclones. “We should be more proactive than react, and we should not wait for the next cyclone for us to react,” Akufuna stated.

Concerns about indigenous produce were also raised during the summit. Speakers urged farmers to institutionalize indigenous African foods that significantly shape the gastronomy of Zimbabwe and the broader continent. They called for increased research on these local foods, emphasizing that making their nutritional components readily available online could enhance public awareness and help preserve Africa’s rich culinary heritage.

In the conclusion phase of the discussions, Mr. Terry Maphosa summed up the sentiment among many of the participants by stating, “Let us embrace our African culture, it gives us the confidence to go to the market.” His remarks underscored the importance of cultural pride and self-reliance in driving economic and social progress across the region.

The summit is expected to foster collaboration among regional and international stakeholders, driving forward actionable solutions to pressing global issues.

By Tafadzwa G Matsa