Research is an instrument of enhancing economic growth - NUST

Professor Lindela Ndlovu, National University of Science and Technology (Nust) Vice-Chancellor said research is an instrument of enhancing economic growth, quality of life and social well being of all Zimbabweans.

Prof Ndlovu said this during a two-day seminar to showcase creativity in research in the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) and Faculty of Commerce last week.

"Today through this seminar we expand our efforts in fulfilling our mission to fill the gaps in research, innovations and dialogue in the field of development studies. We seek to address key economic, political and social concerns especially inequality and poverty, uneven or inadequate economic growth, misdistribution of resources and institutional failures," said Prof Ndlovu.

Director of IDS, Dr Peter Nkala said the objectives of the seminar were to showcase completed and ongoing research, highlighting the role of IDS as an integral part of the university, which created a platform of academic interaction on various issues of development-focused research and contributed to the paradigmatic shift which bridges the long-standing academic tug of war that often existed in the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities.

A research paper presented by Mrs Busisiwe Sibanda focused on the Micro Analysis Impact of Migration on Agricultural Production in Matobo District, Southern Zimbabwe.

Mrs Sibanda said the research was conducted in the Matopo rural area to look at the historical overview of migration colonial policies, political and economic factors related to the subject.

"Remittances constitute the biggest direct effect of migration. The positive social and economic effects of migration in the Matopo include increase in the per capita income and better living standards for example education, health, general welfare and households are also able to invest in farm activities and non-farm activities," said Mrs Ndlovu.

She said the demographic characteristics of the respondents in the study are 78 percent male headed, 22 percent female-headed, and 31 percent headed by the elderly aged above 65 years.

"The people in the area rely on subsistence farming. They grow maize, sorghum and millet, and cash crops are ground nuts and round nuts. Livestock play a vital role; these include cattle, goats, sheep, indigenous poultry and donkeys for draft power," she said

Mrs Ndlovu revealed that around 99 percent of the households had at least one migrant abroad - 83 percent in South Africa, 10 percent in Botswana, seven percent have migrants in both countries with 59 percent in the age group 21-35 years and 36 percent in the age group 36-50 years .

The major reasons for migrating in the area are the search for employment, poor agricultural performance.

"The negative effect of migration is the reduction of manpower to practise agriculture. However there have coping strategies which include hired labour and hiring of tractors during the planting season. Our research revealed that 71 percent of households received monthly remittances ranging between R300-R500, 17 percent between R500-R1 200," she said

Mrs Ndlovu stressed the need for government assistance in the area to sustain food security.

Participants at the seminar commended Nust for establishing the IDS which is spearheading research in the region.

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