第2931期:Zimbabwe uses technology to improve food shortages

Zimbabwe is hoping to one day regain its former title as the bread basket of southern Africa.

津巴布韦希望有朝一日重新获得南部非洲粮食之乡的称号。

52-year-old George Nyamakawa is one of millions of farmers authorities are training under a UN-backed program called Pfumvudza.

52岁的乔治是数百万农民中的一员，政府正通过联合国支持的"Pfumvudza"计划对他们进行培训。

Pfumvudza, which means early shoots in Shona, is a method of conservation agriculture

Pfumvudza在修纳语中意为“初生的嫩芽”，是一种保护性农业耕作方式，

that focuses on small plots that retains water longer, and is more efficient than large scale plowing.

专注于经营能更长时间保持水分的小块农田，相比大规模耕作更高效。

It is easy to maintain. At the same time, it gives more food to the nation.

它易于维护，同时还能为国家提供更多食物。

The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has trained government officials on the method to help combat food shortages that have plagued Zimbabwe for over a decade.

粮农组织(FAO)已就相关方法对政府官员进行培训，以帮助应对困扰津巴布韦十余年的粮食短缺问题。

Zimbabwe's government has touted the program as a possible food security solution,

津巴布韦政府已将该项目宣扬为一种可能的粮食安全解决方案，

but the U.N. World Food Program knows it is still providing food aid to about eight million Zimbabweans--more than half the population.

但联合国世界粮食计划署知道它仍在向大约800万津巴布韦人提供粮食援助，这一数字超过该国人口的一半。

I think it will take a bit of more time to really work towards zero hunger and eradicate the problem all together.

我认为要真正实现零饥饿并彻底解决这一问题还需要多花一点时间。

Early shoots farming has its limitations, says Mandivamba Rukuni, a former agriculture economics professor who now directs a charity focused on farming innovation.

前农业经济学教授曼迪万巴·鲁库尼表示，早期芽苗农业存在局限性。他目前负责一家专注于农业创新的慈善机构。

The main one is it's very labor intensive. In Zimbabwe, like most other countries, labor is becoming more and more scarce, especially in rural areas, people are moving to urban areas.

主要原因是它非常耗费人力。津巴布韦和其他大多数国家一样，劳动力正变得越来越稀缺，特别是在农村地区，人们都在往城市迁移。

Farmers like Nyamakawa say are willing to do the extra work if the yields are higher and if they can count on authorities for support. 

像尼亚马卡瓦这样的农民表示，如果产量更高且能指望当局提供支持，他们愿意多做些额外的工作。