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Agriculture Reporter
COMMUNITIES must work closely with environmental experts and harness resources at their disposal to come up with solutions that lessen the harsh effects of climate change on agriculture and the ecology.
Director for the African Centre for Fertiliser, Dr Isaiah Mharapara made the call during the graduation of 63 students from 10 different countries who had completed the project management course at Frontline Institute in Shamva recently.
“We have a problem in front of us that needs solutions. There are a variety of initiatives that point out to the direction of what is possible in the fight against climate change.
“I want the community to know that the so-called experts don’t know everything but learn from the community. What experts are trained to do is look at the problem and look for possible solutions. The only people who can lead in finding solutions are the community,” he said.
Dr Mharapara said the Shamva community had essentially become the second classroom for the students where they shared ideas and exchanged knowledge adding that climate change was now a reality, hence adaptation ideas had become useful for communities and farmers.
He explained that the new syllabus, Education 5, 0 was embracing climate change issues very well.
Frontline Institute has a rich cultural exchange of different nationalities trained at the school, he further observed.
“It is here that I learnt that despite coming from different countries, these students have learnt to live as one person. This is global thinking. Thank you for fighting shoulder to shoulder with the less privileged. This is very important now that global warming and climate change has emerged as a monster causing catastrophic challenges to humankind and the eco-system.
“This institution is showcasing the mitigation and adaptation actions that people can consider and take. This centre shall have a positive impact to different countries as the students carry home what they have learnt,” said Dr Mharapara.
The graduation ceremony becomes the second following the lifting of the Covid-19 stringent measures.
At least 5 612 students have received tuition at Frontline Institute since its inception, principal of the institution, Mr Doubt Musiwa observed.
The institution has been gradually increasing the numbers per intake from 30. The next graduation ceremony will be early next year.
Mr Musiwa also revealed that the school had changed its methodology and rolled out only one community outreach programme.
“We managed to work with more than 20 families in a fruit tree propagation and planting initiative.
“We conducted training with a view to boost food security. In May this year, we re-established the global warming and climate change initiatives to develop new ideas that can be adapted and copied,” explained Mr Musiwa.
He reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to continue fighting global warming and climate change saying they would intensify research into new technologies on how to fight the challenges.
Online Reporter