Agric graduates motivated to self-employ

Precious Manomano, Herald Reporter

Graduates from Chibero Agricultural College intend to start running their own agro-businesses in line with the country’s aspirations of promoting rural industrialisation and economic growth.

Speaking at the 60th graduation ceremony, graduates were optimistic that they will successfully run businesses, and revive industries using the knowledge they have gained during the course of training.

Overall best student Moreblessing Chirambiwa said she wants to venture into horticulture and small livestock to sustain and supplement her parents’ income in Murehwa.

“I was given US$500 and various gifts from different companies as a way of appreciation. This amount of money will enable me to start my business with the help of my parents. My ambition is to start and run my businesses rather than to be employed. We are supposed to impart our skills to uplift our economy. There is no need to get employed. People who are running businesses are doing very well. What is needed is capital but in my case everything is on track since I have the capital to start,” she said.

Another lady Tariro Mukosi said she has a passion for keeping goats, adding that she will be working on goat breeding to improve its genetics.

“I stay in Murehwa with my parents. We have a farm where we will be keeping large numbers of goats. I will be doing this by mixing different breeds. I have realised that the majority are sustaining families from goat breeding and selling. I am positive that with the knowledge I got from college, I can do well in goat production to sustain my poor family,” she said. Tanaka Munosunama indicated that he wants to embark on pig production after realising that the country is failing to meet pork meat targets.

“I want to engage in pig production because there is a huge gap in pork and other products. I have a strong feeling that if I venture into this programme we can meet the target or even enter into the export market. I am planning to do this before the year end at Mutuvha plots near Norton where we are living with my parents. We have acquired skills that will enable us to compete with other nations,” he said.

This is the first group of students to undergo a new curriculum on heritage based training which enables learning institutions to produce graduates capable of promoting innovation, research and industrialisation.

Chibero Agricultural College principal Mr Philip Mushayi said the college is emphasising on impacting practical skills that will lead to creation of employment opportunities.

“We want to produce graduates that are useful to the country and other graduates before you are not comparable to you. The current training provokes students to think analytically. Our students underwent training in all aspects of Rural Development 8.0 thrust where we have Pfumvudza, Presidential Poultry Scheme, among others. We are fitting very well into the agenda of promoting the rural industrialisation of the country,” he said.

Mr Mushayi said the college is producing food locally as part of the student practical training and self-sustenance.

In a speech read on his behalf by Agricultural Education Director Dr Jotamu Dondofema, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development minister Dr Anxious Masuka said he is happy that agricultural colleges have been transformed to move away from the old system of producing trainers and extensionists to produce graduates that are business oriented.

“The President requires a new education paradigm as agriculture is at the core of rural development and rural transformation to power the improvement of livelihoods.

“We want to focus on the production of farmer centric and business oriented advisory service graduates for a new land reform dispensation,” he said.

The new curriculum focuses on training, business advisory, research, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Forty-eight graduated yesterday with 30 females and 18 males.

Government has successfully transformed education curricula from Agricultural Education 2.0 whose outputs were trainers and extensionists to Agricultural Education for Development 5.0 which is the milestones in Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Strategy.