UNDP HANDS OVER US$80k EQUIPMENT, GOATS, TO COLLEGE

Latwell Nyangu

THE United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has handed over feed analysis, laboratory equipment and goats, worth US$80 000, to Esigodini Agricultural College.

It is meant to advance the agricultural training institution’s capacity in goat breeding and nutrition.

Fifty-four goats of the Kalahari and Matabele breeds, plus an assortment of agricultural equipment which includes heating ovens, digital analytical balance, labsize grinding mill, automated fat extractor, microscopes, fume cupboards, automated kjeldal unit and several laboratory consumables, worth a total cost of US$82 760, were handed over to the college.

The initiative is set to enhance the institution’s educational programmes, extension and business advisory services.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Professor Obert Jiri, hailed the initiative.

“The integration of these resources into our educational programmes will enrich the learning experience of our students.

“Through hands on-training and practical exposure to livestock management and agricultural practices, our students will develop the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in the field.

“Moreover, it is imperative to recognise the broader implications of these initiatives within the context of the livestock recovery and growth plan.

“By increasing the college’s herd from the donation does not only contribute to the revitalisation of the agricultural sector but also driving economic growth and resilience within the community,” said Professor Jiri. UNDP Zimbabwe resident representative, Dr. Ayodele Odusola, said the partnership between UNDP Zimbabwe and the government seeks to contribute to national development goals.

“This partnership is aimed at advancing the national climate resilience building agenda where Zimbabwe, like most parts of sub-Saharan Africa, is perennially affected by climatic hazards impacting heavily on smallholder rain-fed agricultural production systems, often with severe extending consequences on socio-economic development.”

This project is part of a broader partnership that brings together the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development, UNDP and the Green Climate Fund (GCF).