MINISTRY OF LANDS, AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES, WATER AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Professor dr. Obert Jiri is the Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development.

Prior to his appointment as Permanent Secretary at the Ministry , Professor Jiri was the Chief Director responsible for national agricultural extension and advisor on crops, livestock and fisheries production and development. He was also responsible for migratory pests surveillance and control, and also for extension personnel and farmer training and capacitation

Prior to his appointment at the Ministry:

• 1. He served the University of Zimbabwe for almost 20 years as a Lecturer and Professor, and subsequently as a Research Specialist for Natural and Applied Sciences.
• 2. He has vast experience working with various Government, Private sector and Institutions of Higher education in the areas of climate change adaptation, indegenous knowledge systems, agricultural research, seed production, precision agriculture, geotechnology, education and intergrated natural resources management.
• 3. He also conducetd field surveys, worked with communities on issues to do with land reform, redistribution,general agriculture and climate change adaptation.
• 4. His immediate past research interest were investigating indegenous knowledge systems as they impact livelihoods in smallholder farming communities and has published over 50 research papers on various issues including climate change perceptions and adaptation in these communities.