Calvin Manika
HWANGE youths are targeting agricultural projects which will provide a means of employment in the process empowering themselves economically.
Speaking to The Zambezi Times, most of the youths who attended a recent workshop organised by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement through its Youth Desk in Farming in conjunction with the Empower Bank described the training as an eye opener.
“It’s now a week after training, but I have a lot of pressure to carefully think on the project to engage on. I was equipped with skills and avenues to apply for a loan have been opened. The challenge was, we always took farming as the ‘other thing’ but alas its business,” said one of the youth, Charles Ncube.
The Youth in Agriculture capacity building training in Hwange trained 50 youths with the objectives of creating awareness of youth financial inclusion and taking farming as business.
Among other lessons was the effective use of fertilisers and agrochemical management concepts. The experts told the youths to understand the business of farming, its market access and trade facilitation.
The training which is part of the government led capacity development programme is targeting 5 000 young farmers countrywide. The agricultural vitalisation plan also targets women, to empower them in crop and livestock production.
Presenting certificates, Minister of State for Matabeleland North Province Richard Moyo said the training was to capacitate youths in Hwange to help the country attain its targets in the National Development Strategy (NDS1) and Vision 2030.
“Youths must be involved in self-sustainable projects in agriculture. Farming is business and the knowledge acquired here must be put into use to help the country achieve its objectives of NDS1 and Vision 2030,” said Moyo.
The training comes at a time the country is reeling under the threats posed by abuse of drugs among youth. Many youths in the country’s townships are abusing deadly substances like mbanje, bronclair and crystal meth, all with dire consequences for the development of communities and the country at large.
Another participant who spoke to this publication said he was grateful for the plan by the government to train youth amidst the loss caused by Covid-19.
“The pandemic affected us big-time. Some of us were in the tourism sector as casual workers and we lost employment. This is an opportunity to begin a new life in agriculture and invest in farming with the support of the government,” said Melody Sibanda of Lukosi ward.
A concept note by Enactus Entrepreneurship in Zimbabwe indicates that the impact of Covid-19 in Zimbabwe in relation to youth unemployment is alarming.
The pandemic amplified current societal challenges related to informal work and lack of social protection, particularly amongst the youth, with more than 1 in 4 youth, particularly young women, having lost their jobs since the beginning of the pandemic.
According to Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee, 2020 to date, 38% of households recorded loss of employment.
