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Herald Reporter
BUSINESSMAN Dr Kudakwashe Tagwirei’s charity arm, Bridging Gap Foundation (GPF), has unveiled Kuguta Mission Gardens in Rainham, Harare, a pioneering project aimed at driving national development through youth empowerment in horticulture.
The initiative will provide comprehensive funding to the first batch of youths from the Seventh Day Adventist Church, enabling them to venture into horticulture, focusing on high-demand crops like cabbages, tomatoes, and watermelons.
The youths will take turns, residing at the farmhouse, where they will monitor crops, receive mentorship from experts on lucrative horticulture practices, and explore export opportunities.
Speaking at the official launch in the capital yesterday, BGF co-founder, Mrs Sandra Tagwirei, said the project sought to fulfil the desire of young people to be productive.
“The garden is here to fulfil the desire that young people have shown to be productive,” she said. “With this initiative, the youth are going to receive intense training on best practice approaches to farming.”
Youths will be seized with researching new technologies and means of promoting sustainable interventions nationwide.
“They will also play a pivotal role in ensuring international markets are explored and ventured into exhaustively,” she said.
“They will become community champions, who will go back to their communities and create start-ups.”
The project aims to contribute to Zimbabwe’s economic growth and food security by providing youths with hands-on training and experience.
An agronomist, Ms Beauty Magiya, described the project as a game-changer, highlighting the high return on investment in horticulture.
“Horticulture has a high return on investment; it’s a project that gives money quickly.
“With horticulture, there is a diverse cropping programme that they can adopt. Looking at this area, it is very close to Harare, so they are targeting markets like Mbare Musika and they are also targeting fruit and vegetable markets.”
Beneficiaries of the project expressed gratitude to the Bridging the Gap Foundation, promising to empower other youths.
“I am so happy to be part of this initiative project,” said Ms Alicia Masarira, a beneficiary said. “I want to become a successful farmer and inspire others to venture into farming.”
Another beneficiary, Mr Mthokozisi Ncube, described the project as his breakthrough.
“It’s not easy being a youth and at the same time not employed, so I am very excited because I am aware that some of my peers are not employed.
“I hope my venturing into horticulture will serve as an inspiration to others to go into farming,” he said.
The Bridging the Gap Foundation plans to replicate the Kuguta Mission Gardens project in other provinces, extending the opportunity to all youths, regardless of their religious affiliation.
Online Reporter