Online Reporter
Elita Chikwati
STAKEHOLDERS in the tobacco sector have called for the involvement of young people in agricultural activities to improve food security, promote economic development and add impetus to the attainment of Vision 2030.
Youth participation in tobacco production will also help curb self-destructive activities.
Several youths are engaging in criminal activities, including drugs, when they can participate in farming and economically empower themselves.
This came out at a recent media tour of farms producing natural-cured Virginia tobacco that relies on a sustainable curing system using the Marula Barn in Mangwe.
The tour was organised by the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) for the media and stakeholders in the industry to appreciate the sustainable way of curing tobacco.
A1 farmer, Mr Reuben Khumalo of Greenfields Farm in Mangwe, said they were having challenges with tobacco operations, as most of the youths in the area were not willing to work on farms, particularly those producing tobacco.
Mr Khumalo said some youths were migrating to South Africa in search of greener pastures, yet they could participate in farming and earn a better living.
“Youths are the future generation and are the ones who should be participating in agriculture and not us, the elderly. Youths are key to the attainment of Vision 2030.
“Youths’ involvement in agriculture is important in ensuring household and national food security, economic growth and rural industrialisation
“Marula is the green belt of Mangwe. We receive better rains and youths can help on the farms and boost production and also improve their livelihoods.
“We are experiencing labour challenges because most of the young people in this area are not willing to work on tobacco farms or grow the crop,” he said.
Mr Khumalo said most of the people who were farming were the elderly.
Some of the stakeholders, however, noted that the situation could improve if the youths had knowledge of tobacco production and also if there were some incentives for the young generation to be attracted to agriculture.
Federation of Young Farmers Clubs in Zimbabwe (FYFCZ) representative, Mr Edwin Kudangah, said it was important for the youths to get training on tobacco production.
He said the young generation could participate in farming fully if they also enjoyed the proceeds from farming.
“In some instances, the young people help parents and relatives on the farms, but when it comes to the sharing of proceeds, they are not included. If the young ones also get a share of the farm profits, they will be motivated to work harder and be economically empowered,” he said.
NCV tobacco contractor in Matabeleland, Atlas Agri, is now mobilising youths in Mangwe to train them on tobacco production.
Atlas Agri regional supervisor Mr Rodreck Musiyiwa said the company was mobilising youths from Matabeleland North and South provinces to grow tobacco.
“We are targeting to contract at least 100 youths to produce tobacco in the area. We have formed a WhatsApp group for the interested youths and so far we have more than 200 members we are working with,” he said.
TIMB public affairs officer Mrs Chelesani Tsarwe said they were also supporting youths to excel in tobacco production.
“In partnership with the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show (ZAS), TIMB has also been supporting recognition platforms that motivate young farmers to excel in tobacco production through the Tobacco Section competition.
“The competition recognises outstanding growers, including a dedicated youth farmer category. This recognition helps encourage more young people to view tobacco farming as a viable business and career opportunity,” she said.
The Government is implementing policies and programmes aimed at empowering young people to actively participate in Zimbabwe’s economic transformation agenda.
Programmes involve the establishment of vocational centres in different parts of the country, as part of efforts to economically empower youths.
Empower Bank was also established to cater to youths so they can access funding for different economic projects.
Mathew Masinge