Story by John Nhandara
PRESIDENT Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s rural industrialisation agenda is beginning to yield tangible results, with Village and School Business Units emerging as key drivers of food security, youth empowerment and rural employment creation.
One of the success stories is the Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Youth Service and Vocational Training Centre business unit in Igava Village, Mashonaland East Province, where agricultural production projects are enhancing institutional sustainability while generating income for the surrounding community.
The centre is currently harvesting cabbage for supply to local markets and retail outlets after successfully cultivating 12 000 plants under its horticulture programme.
“We planted 12 000 plants and today we are harvesting because they are now ready for the market. In Ward 7, we have similar gardens and they are benefitting us as a community. We now understand that farming is a business because we are running a commercially viable entity,” extension officer Onica Ziwora said.
In addition to horticulture production, the institution has expanded into commercial aquaculture, with four fish ponds stocked with 8 000 fingerlings expected to be ready for harvesting within the next three months.
“We have 8 000 fingerlings in our fish ponds set for harvesting in the next three months. We have four fish ponds, with a carrying capacity of 2 000 fingerlings per pond. We also have a borehole supplying water to both the fish ponds and the garden,” centre head Thomas Kunaka said.
Stakeholders implementing the programme say the projects are proving to be viable models for rural economic transformation.
“The establishment of Village Business Units, School Business Units and Vocational Training Centre business units is being implemented at national level and what we have seen at Igava is a successful model of these projects,” Tariro Dondo said.
Tina Nleya noted that off-take agreements have already been secured with retail outlets to guarantee markets for the produce.
Government says the establishment of Village Business Units, School Business Units and Vocational Training Centre business units forms part of a broader rural industrialisation strategy aimed at transforming rural economies into productive hubs.
President Mnangagwa has repeatedly underscored the importance of rural industrialisation as a pillar of inclusive economic growth and sustainable livelihoods.
Government is targeting the establishment of 35 000 Village Business Units countrywide, with schools and training institutions expected to adopt the model to promote self-sufficiency, employment creation and long-term food security.
