Online Reporter
Dalyn Chigwizura, Zimpapers Writer
A 28-YEAR-OLD farmer from Ntabazinduna in Umguza District, Mr Mthunzikayise Mlotshwa, is proving that agriculture is not only for the elderly but also a viable business for the country’s youth.
Armed with degrees in Applied Mathematics and Big Data Science from the National University of Science and Technology, Mr Mlotshwa has chosen to channel his knowledge and energy into wheat production. His efforts are creating employment, improving local food supply and providing a vital water source for his community.
Mr Mlotshwa started farming in 2018 with broiler chickens in Cowdray Park, Bulawayo, before moving into horticulture and eventually wheat production. Today, he cultivates two hectares of wheat under drip irrigation powered by solar energy and borehole water.
“I decided to focus on wheat farming because there is high demand in my area, which is mostly occupied by miners. The food market is always there,” he said.
The young farmer markets his produce through local networks and WhatsApp groups, although his dream is to expand into national supply chains.
“I want to take my wheat to the Grain Marketing Board and contribute to national food security,” he said.
True to the Government’s call for youth involvement in agriculture, Mr Mlotshwa has also created jobs for his peers.
“I have people that I work with permanently, while some are seasonal workers I hire during peak times like weeding, harvesting and ploughing. I also give back to the community by allowing people to fetch water from my pumps,” he said.
His journey reflects the spirit of the National Youth Policy in Agriculture, which encourages young Zimbabweans to embrace farming as a business through access to land, inputs and skills development. Under the Second Republic, initiatives such as Pfumvudza/Intwasa, Presidential Input Schemes and the drive to empower youth in commercial agriculture are aimed at positioning young farmers at the centre of food security and economic growth.
The Government is also ensuring these young farmers do not go it alone. Through initiatives such as the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) and various youth-focused agricultural support programmes, the Government is working to provide access to funding, training and technical support. Agriculture remains the backbone of Zimbabwe’s economy and with young farmers stepping up, the sector is being infused with innovation and energy.
Mr Mlotshwa’s vision is to grow his market, expand production and become a reliable supplier of wheat across the country.
“What motivated me is my family. My mother is an Agritex officer and my father has always loved farming. I want to carry that passion forward and contribute meaningfully to my country’s development and food security,” he said.
The integration of young people into national programmes such as the Horticulture Recovery and Growth Plan has been viewed as critical for the agriculture sector growth.
The country’s horticulture sector is firmly on a growth trajectory, with the Government projecting it to become a US$2 billion industry by 2030, following a series of policy interventions aimed at revitalising the once-declining industry.
The turnaround comes under the Horticulture Recovery and Growth Plan, launched by President Mnangagwa in 2021, which has seen exponential growth in key high-value crops
Bongani Ndlovu