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Agriculture Reporter
AS the Government moves to increase the participation of youths in agriculture, 24 youth beneficiaries from Mashonaland West have received A2 permits for 10-hectare pieces of land under the Presidential 10-hectare scheme.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, which was held last week in Chinhoyi, Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development youth desk chief programmes coordinator Nickros Kajengo said the allocation of land to new young farmers was testament to Government’s efforts in youth empowerment through agriculture.
“The beneficiaries are the first batch, as the Government targets to empower a total of 74 beneficiaries in Mashonaland West,” he revealed.
The country’s demography is made up of 60 percent youth, who represent a large number of the productive population.
“Youth engagement in agriculture continues to be an important aspect of the country’s development through new energy and skills for maximum production and growth of the agriculture sector,” said Mr Kajengo.
The Government through the programme is moving to seamlessly replace the ageing population in the agricultural sector with young people.
“This handover ceremony is in fulfilment of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s youth economic empowerment drive through the Provincial Youth Integrated Hubs launched last year in the Midlands Province,” said Mr Kajengo
The Government has been rolling out a nationwide capacity building programme whereby 5000 youth have been trained in various farming activities in preparation for agricultural production.
“The provincial integrated incubation hubs being supported by the country’s eight agricultural colleges established around the country have been able to capacitate youth with the necessary skills to do well in agriculture and contribute to food security,” said Mr Kajengo.
In addition, the Government managed to allocate land to 700 youths under the provincial youth integrated scheme to increase production from their participation.
Speaking during the launch of the programme in the Midlands last year, President Mnangagwa said with the country’s economy being agro-based, the move ensure that young people would be absorbed into the mainstream economy through participation in the entire agriculture value chain.
“We are calling upon the young people to participate in agriculture as primary production remains a key aspect of economic development. The youths must take advantage of the sound agribusiness environment in the country and be productive,” said President Mnangagwa.
The Government has strategically remodelled the capital sourcing environment in a move that is meant to bolster production through easy start-ups to agriculture.
Recently, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development permanent secretary Dr John Basera revealed that Government had made deliberate efforts to ensure youths benefiting from the Presidential programme would have access to capital and inputs.
Online Reporter