Chronicle Editor
Sikhulekelani Moyo, Sunday News Reporter
THE Government has urged agricultural colleges across the country to come up with innovative ways of strengthening their revenue streams and stop relying on raising fees paid by students and allocations from the ministry.
In his address during the 25th graduation and prize-giving day at Esigodini Agricultural College where 76 students graduated recently, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka said colleges should move away from raising fees to cover the financial gaps to think around ways of making money from the various agriculture activities.
He said there was need to do an analysis of the business case of agriculture colleges before the 2024 National Budget to see where the colleges were positioned and what assistance they require so that they were prioritised in the transformation agenda.
“The colleges must not have this default thinking that the easiest way to fill in the gaps between what the students ought to have and what the Government gives is raising fees. I will not be approving any request to raise fees next year. I want these colleges to train entrepreneurs and these entrepreneurs must be able to generate revenue to sustain themselves in school by 2025. Fifty percent of the revenue must be generated by each college so that this default thinking that we must raise fees three times a year ceases to exist,” said Dr Masuka.
Dr Masuka said the 76 graduates should go out and produce goods and services rather than taking pride in having the gown and certificate and not being productive. He added that the days of training agriculture extension officers and trainers were over saying agriculture at every scale should be a business.
“We want agriculture from household level to become a business, small holder farmers (A1) should become businesses and A2 and beyond should become a business, which means the agricultural extension officers you train must have certain competences and this is why we are saying we want this minimum board of knowledge across all agriculture colleges to have five aspects that we are transiting from agricultural education 2.0 to agricultural education for development 5.0 focusing on training, business, innovation, research and entrepreneurship,” said Dr Masuka.
He added that the entrepreneurship aspect was critical at individual level and the training was supposed to inculcate in the graduates the skills, competences and capabilities to enable them to be productive.
In his address, Esigodini Agricultural College principal Mr Farai Gomo said their students were required to initiate and manage a business enterprise where they shoulder financial risk, acquire planning, organising and problem-solving skills. He said the graduating class leaves an indelible footprint, track, and heritage of excellence to succeeding generations.
“Between January and December 2022, the college had come to be known for a steady supply of quality vegetables and broilers in Umzingwane district and as far afield as Gwanda. Companies such as OK Mart and others in Bulawayo came down in pursuit of the Esigodini brand of vegetables,” said Mr Gomo.
In her remarks, Matabeleland South Province Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Eveline Ndlovu said the future prosperity of the nation depended on the collective efforts of individuals who possess the knowledge, skills, and passion to transform the agricultural landscape.
“Today, as you, our graduates, step out into the world, we entrust you with a critical role in the realisation of Vision 2030. You are not merely graduates; you are the key drivers of the Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Strategy,” said Minister Ndlovu.
She urged them to embrace the responsibility and spearhead the necessary changes that would propel the agricultural sector to new heights.
“The challenges we face are significant, but with your expertise and dedication, we can overcome them and create a sustainable future for Zimbabwe. As you embark on this journey, remember that you are game changers. You have the power to shape the destiny of our nation’s agricultural sector,” she said. — @SikhulekelaniM1
Bongani Ndlovu