adminMiss Moyo from Bubi District came first in the best extension worker of the year competition whose winners were announced at Inyathi Training Centre in Bubi.
Her province also won the first prize in the national competition.
Miss Moyo walked away with $1 200, a motor bike, 30kg of seed maize, among other gifts.
The annual competitions were organised by the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development in collaboration with Pannar Seeds.
The second winner was Mashonaland East followed by Manicaland while Matabeleland South was fourth.
Masvingo came fifth while Mashonaland Central occupied the sixth position.
Midlands came seventh and Mashonaland West last.
In his address the guest of honour who is also the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Ngoni Masoka said recognising and awarding extension workers has made a positive impact in the empowerment of farmers.
“The awards have made a positive impact on the overall performance of the extension workers in particular and farmers in general. We encourage extension workers to take this competition seriously as it helps to improve standards of extension delivery service,” said Mr Masoka.
“Extension workers are expected to provide farmers with knowledge, skills and cultivate positive attitudes towards agricultural development so as to improve productivity. This would ensure households and national food security increase export earnings and raise standards of living in rural areas.”
Speaking at the same occasion Lupane district administrator Mr Christopher Chuma who was representing Matabeleland North Governor Thokozile Mathuthu, urged the Government to avail more resources to extension workers and improve their conditions of service.
He also urged extension workers in the province to upgrade their qualifications through enrolling for further studies with institutions such as Lupane State University.
Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) first deputy president Mr Abdul Nyathi said agriculture was the backbone of Zimbabwean economy and extension services were crucial towards realising improved agricultural production.
Pannar Seeds managing director Mr Themba Nkatazo concurred with Mr Nyathi and said his organisation was committed to continue working with farmers in enhancing increased food production in the country.
The competitions were first introduced in Masvingo in 1996 as a way of recognising and awarding extension workers who would have excelled in their work.
The participants were examined in five aspects that include personality attributes, management qualities, general knowledge of the area, technical and extension capability and stakeholder assessment.
Senior Government officials, farmers’ union leaders, extension workers from different provinces, traditional leaders and scores of farmers also attended the event.
Among them were Agritex principal director Mr Joseph Gondo and local MP Cde Clifford Sibanda.
Online Reporter