admin
Victor Maphosa Mashonaland East Bureau
Agricultural colleges must produce graduates who are innovative and competitive in the commercial agriculture sector.
Officiating at the 30th graduation, prize giving and award ceremony for 67 graduates at Kushinga Phikelela Agricultural college in Marondera recently, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Deputy Minister Davis Marapira said the future of agriculture in Zimbabwe was in the hands of youths being trained in colleges across the country.
Deputy Minister Marapira challenged graduates to use their skills wisely.
“It is worth noting that the future of agriculture in our country lies in the hands of young men and women who are graduating from our agriculture colleges and other institutions of higher learning,” he said.
“We must, however, not just produce graduates to get jobs, but we also need to produce graduates with entrepreneurial spirits, who will go into farming and become competitive players in the commercial agriculture sector. It is worth noting that we have no choice except pushing harder with the agriculture transformation agenda.
“The land mass is not increasing and yet the population on other hand is rapidly increasing, placing competing demands on land use type.
“This demands that we multiply our efforts on whatever land that is remaining, to increase production and to keep up with the increased demand for food.
“New technologies, sound extension advice, increasing the number of adequately trained farmers and collaborative strategies will make us build a sustainable and vibrant agricultural sector.”
The graduation ceremony was a positive step marking a great milestone on the agricultural education transformation journey as the Government adopted the new Agricultural Education for Development 5.0 curriculum which is one of the milestones in the agriculture and food systems transformation strategy, a key pillar for the National Development Strategy 1 and a catalyst to achieve Vision 2030.
Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Mashonaland East Dr Aplonia Munzverengwi said the education and training of human resources was in tandem with the National Development Strategy 1, on improving food security and nutrition.
“We are therefore proud of our institution, Kushinga Phikelela Agricultural College for producing well trained personnel to drive rural development. This graduation is also contributing to human capital development thereby contributing towards a prosperous and empowered upper middle income society by 2030.
“May I take this opportunity to encourage the youths to venture into agriculture and participate in the development of this country.”
Ever Nyariri who graduated said she will use the acquired skills to take agriculture to another level.
“I want to venture into horticulture. That is where my passion is. I worked hard and today won a lot of prizes. I acquired a lot of skills and will use them to take horticulture to another level.”
Another graduate Tendai Samupindu said he will use his skills to assist other farmers.
But he appealed to Government to consider giving land to some of the graduates so that they can productively use their skills and contribute to the development of the nation.
Online Reporter