Online Reporter
Blessings Chidakwa
Herald Reporter
First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa has applauded the remarkable role played by women and youth in agriculture, saying their combined efforts form a powerful force driving productivity, innovation and national pride.
Speaking at the launch of the inaugural Combined Women and Youth in Agriculture Excellency Awards on Sunday, Dr Mnangagwa also urged communities to embrace local produce and nutritious traditional cuisine as foundations for good health and sustainable development.
The prestigious awards honouring excelling women and youth saw the overall winner, Rutendo Mangudya, who is into dairy, poultry, grains and value addition from Manicaland Province, walking away with a brand-new tractor.
Second place was scooped by Terrence Dhadheu, a tobacco, maize and beef farmer from Mashonaland West Province, while third place was won by the Ganye brothers from Mashonaland East, who are into value addition. They also walked away with various prizes, including cash, agricultural inputs and chemicals, among others.
A passionate farmer herself, Dr Mnangagwa said the launch of the inaugural Combined Women and Youth in Agriculture Excellency Awards is vital in realising the need for inclusivity, leaving no one and no place behind.
“It has become necessary to combine these two important demographic groups. This is a first-of-its-kind initiative, bringing together women and youth, and it must continue. Women and youth must support each other,” she said.
“This collaboration should cascade down to all our provinces, uniting women and youth through shared work and purpose. Let us unite in our efforts to uplift our farmers, particularly our women and youth and to ensure that agriculture remains a cornerstone of our economy and society.”
Dr Mnangagwa reaffirmed her commitment to empowering women and youth through initiatives such as Agric4She, Pfumvudza4She, Banana4She, Poultry4She, and Fisheries4She.
“Together, we can build a prosperous future for all Zimbabweans. When I introduced Agric4She in 2022, the aim was to uplift women in our agricultural sector using a value chain approach.
“The journey of women empowerment through agriculture has been transformative. As the patron for Agric4She, I have witnessed firsthand how empowering women in agriculture not only enhances their livelihoods but strengthens our entire agricultural value chain,” she said.
Dr Mnangagwa said supporting women and youth in agriculture enhances income generation, promotes food security, advances gender equity and accelerates national development.
“The role of women and youth in agriculture is vital. We have seen granaries fill and food security improve thanks to interventions like Agric4She. Support has also come through programmes such as title deeds, tractors and other initiatives,” she said.
“The role of women and youth in agriculture cannot be overstated. In 2024, I launched Pfumvudza4She in Mashonaland Central Province, and it is reported that women have performed extremely well. During the 2025/2026 season, Agric4She will be in full swing.”
The First Lady said farmers should take advantage of the several Government programmes focused on supporting agriculture, including input schemes, tractor schemes, irrigation support and the ongoing title deeds programme.
Dr Mnangagwa, a champion of indigenous foods, described traditional foods as both nutritious and beneficial to health, encouraging communities to value and promote them as part of a balanced and sustainable diet.
Mother Zimbabwe shared one of her exciting aspects, the “Cook Out Competitions,” which celebrate gastronomy and the rich culinary traditions of Zimbabwe.
Dr Mnangagwa said these competitions not only promote healthy eating, but also empower women by allowing them to showcase their skills and creativity.
“Cooking is an art, and through these competitions, we encourage our communities to appreciate the importance of local produce and traditional cuisine. Our local traditional foods are both nutritious and healthy, and as the ‘Mother of Nutrition,’ I encourage all women to promote their consumption.
“We had forgotten the importance of our traditional meals, such as nyemba, among several other dishes. We must teach our children about our culture, our roots and the strength of traditional dishes. In the past, our grandmothers lived long and healthy lives, sustained by nature’s bounty,” she said.
The First Lady also urged all mothers to become Mothers of Nutrition each week, making it a practice to include traditional foods in their families’ meals.
“Let us learn to sit together as families, sharing our traditional dishes, celebrating and preserving our heritage,” she said.
Dr Mnangagwa also talked about agro-tourism, saying that as part of preserving heritage at the local level, people can contemplate having a family heroes’ acre with well-kept graves, even inscribed with the history of the deceased, including what they used to like, be it food, among others.
“The graves of our forebears should be well-fenced and respected. By doing so, we preserve the dignity of our heritage and pass on a living legacy to our children. Also, let us plant fruit trees at our homes,” she said.
Dr Mnangagwa also applauded youth in farming, saying they have taken a bold stance which makes them stay away from drugs.
“We hear much about the challenges of drug and substance abuse, yet these young people have shown that hard work and dedication, bringing food to our homes, truly pave the way forward. Let us unite in our efforts to empower our youth,” she said.
Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka urged women and youth to concentrate on value addition.
“This nation has an agro-based economy, and it is agriculture done differently that will drive the transformation towards Vision 2030. Agric4She, under the able leadership of the First Lady, is encouraging rural women to look at their activities differently.
“What you are doing at a subsistence level can be done in a new way that unlocks value. You too, in Chendambuya, can move from being a subsistence farmer to becoming a transformative woman who actively participates in economic activities,” he said.
Minister Masuka said agriculture is an economic activity in its own right, and their mandate as Government is to ensure that it drives economic development across the country.
“If we get agriculture right, we are likely to get most things right, and the Second Republic is doing exactly that,” he said.
Minister Masuka said another important aspect is to ensure that the food produced is nutritious.
“We must improve our nutrition, as the First Lady has demonstrated by example, ensuring that we not only grow traditional grains, which are naturally fortified, but also focus on the culinary side, improving gastronomy and ensuring that we cook healthy meals for our families.
“I challenge Agric4She and everyone else to return to our traditional grains, as the First Lady has encouraged,” he said.
Federation of Young Farmers Clubs Trustee Member Commissioner Philip Severa conveyed heartfelt gratitude to the President for economically empowering young people, while also appreciating the First Lady for her transformative Agric4She initiatives.
“We are truly thankful that the Second Republic has uplifted so many young people. Personally, not so long ago, I was a nobody, but today, I have been empowered.
“The land reform programme, which has been accelerated under the Second Republic, has opened doors for young people to access land through various initiatives, and we continue to make great progress,” he said.
Commissioner Severa also expressed appreciation and encouraged that this culture of recognition and celebration be maintained.
“Within our organisation, we have members cultivating up to 3 000 hectares, and some in Chiredzi working on as much as 5 000 hectares of sugarcane,” he said.
Youth, Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training Minister Tino Machakaire said youths stand ready to support the President’s vision to develop the country.
“This event marks a significant milestone in our commitment to youth involvement in agriculture. We come together under the leadership of His Excellency, President Mnangagwa, who has launched a transformative youth empowerment strategy aimed at increasing youth participation in agriculture.
“We are also here because of the unwavering commitment to empowerment demonstrated by Her Excellency, the First Lady. This initiative is not merely a plan but a deep commitment to providing our young people with the tools, resources, and opportunities they need to succeed,” he said.
Minister Machakaire also applauded his counterpart, Minister Masuka, for establishing a viable youth desk within his ministry to address the agricultural needs of young people.
Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Harare Metropolitan Province, Charles Tawengwa, said the winners should be reminded that this is only the beginning of the journey towards sustainable agricultural development, industrialisation and climate-smart business growth.
“While the path ahead may present challenges, it is also filled with opportunities waiting to be seized,” he said.
“In the agriculture sector, Harare Metropolitan Province has tremendous potential for agro-processing and value addition due to its central location among the Mashonaland Provinces East, West, and Central which are agro-centric regions producing most of the raw materials that feed the manufacturing industry in Harare Metropolitan Province.”
The overall winner, Rutendo Mangudya, said receiving the award was an incredible honour.
“I was honestly taken aback; I wasn’t expecting it, but I am so grateful to the First Lady, the Ministries of Agriculture and Youth, and all our stakeholders for recognising us as young farmers. This recognition truly inspires us to keep going.
“I am also happy to inspire other young farmers. My work has always been driven by a belief in our country and in advancing our national vision for food self-sufficiency. I am deeply honoured, humbled and truly appreciative,” she said.
One of the two Ganye brothers, speaking while flanked by their father, said they were truly overwhelmed.
“Unity and teamwork make our work stronger and our harvests better. Every small effort counts when we pull together,” he said.
“It’s not easy sometimes, but it’s so rewarding. Working as a family has allowed us to have smooth handovers and takeovers, reducing misunderstandings and avoiding conflicts.”
The Ganye brother added that, apart from enjoying the rewards of farming, it also helps address social issues such as drug and substance abuse.
One of the most inspiring stories involved 13-year-old Taryline Chipo Bote, who was also honoured in the sheep, goats and rabbits category.
“I started with only two rabbits three years ago, and I am overjoyed to have won this award today. I have been working hard every day to care for them and increase their numbers.
“The money I earn from selling rabbits I use for stationery and sometimes even for school uniforms. I no longer have to ask for pocket money. To sustain my business, I also reinvest some of the money to buy inputs so that the business can grow,” she said.
Veteran agronomist Ivan Craig, who also received a lifetime award for championing agriculture, shared some wise advice for start-up farmers.
“As Zimbabweans, we are blessed with land and water, so we should utilise these resources to create employment. Let us engage in everything from livestock farming and beekeeping to fisheries and many other activities.
“Youth have a 20 percent land quota, but even while the process is ongoing, start by using the small plots we already have at home or in rural areas. When starting out, it is also good to experiment; it is key.”
Mr Craig added: “Don’t wait for capital to be given to you; start your project with whatever little you have, it will grow into something substantial. Take the case of a girl who won a prize but started with just two rabbits; now she has 200.”
The awards ceremony was a testament to the impact of such initiatives and the dedication of women in the agricultural sector.
