Youths urged to venture into agriculture

H Metro Reporter
YOUNG people have been urged to venture into agriculture and to shun the use of recreational drugs.
The call was made by Augustine Mukwenya, a 30-year-old businessman and philanthropist during an anti-drug campaign which was held in Harare last week.

Dubbed “Zero Drugs by 2030,” the campaign was launched in Harare early this year.

Mukwenya said if the youths become farmers, they will not be idle.

According to Mukwenya, idleness is pushing some of the youths into drug and substance abuse.

“Research has shown that some of the young people are driven into drugs by idleness. By venturing into farming, the youths will avoid being idle and, in the end, avoid circles of bad influence,” he said.

Under the campaign, young peer educators have been deployed across the country to teach young people about the dangers that are associated with drug and substance abuse.

Mukwenya’s company, AG Solar Solutions, has availed funds that are empowering those youths and former drug addicts who are keen to become farmers.

Mukwenya also spoke about the important role that agriculture plays in economic development.

“The next generation of African billionaires will be farmers. Young people must start now and build for themselves a solid financial foundation,” Mukwenya said.

Eric Marimba, a former drug addict who is now into farming spoke highly about the “Zero Drugs by 2030” programme.

“This programme saved my life. If I had continued abusing drugs, I am sure I would have been dead by now. Instead of frequenting drug dens, I now spend much of time at the farm,” the 27-year-old Marimba said.