adminBlessing Rwizi
A VUMBA-BASED Agritex officer was last week adjudicated the Mutare District agriculture extension officer of the year and walked away with a trophy and solar panel among other prizes.
Mr Joseph Ngoya received the award during a field day held in Lower Vumba.
Mr Ngoya (32) was honoured for exceeding agricultural production and general rural development standards in Ward 33 over the past three years.
He works with 225 farmers.
Mr Ngoya has a target of 12 farmers per day.
He uses a motorbike.
Extension officers act as facilitators and communicators helping farmers to make decisions and ensuring that the appropriate knowledge is correctly applied to obtain the best results in terms of agricultural production and general rural development.
They often actively implement and promote farming and development programmes aimed at reaching marginalised farmers or those who have little access to information and extension services or who make little use of them.
They do this in close collaboration with the farming communities, helping them to help themselves and become more self-reliant and independent.
Ward 33 councillor, Mrs Winmore Mushakawanhu, described the winner as a knowledgeable man with the farming community at heart.
“He has united farmers in this ward. His ability to bring sustainable ideas that do not strain resources has brought good yields from our farms,” said Mrs Mushakawanhu.
Mr Ngoya said if it was not for some few challenges he was facing in the area, they would have surpassed the current level of production and development.
“I am trying my best, but the rainfall challenges are drawing us back. I would like to appeal to Government and NGOs to intervene and assist us with dams and irrigation equipment to boost irrigation activities in the area,” said Mr Ngoya.
Online Reporter