Story by Tamuka Charakupa
THE government has called on new agricultural graduates to be innovative and actively contribute to the country’s agriculture-led economic development.
The call was made at Chibero Agricultural College’s 61st graduation ceremony this Friday, where 60 students were conferred with diplomas in various agriculture-related disciplines.
The event saw government officials urging the graduating class to take a leading role in driving Zimbabwe’s food security and rural industrialisation agenda.
Students say they are prepared to contribute to the country’s economic development.
“As students, we are encouraged to move beyond just producing raw crops and start embracing value addition. By processing our produce into finished goods, we can increase earnings, create jobs, and contribute more meaningfully to industrialisation and economic growth. Value addition is the future of agriculture and entrepreneurship,” a student said.
“As young people, we must begin to see every piece of land, even the small backyard spaces, as an opportunity for production. Full utilisation of land means turning idle spaces into gardens or small projects that can feed families, create income, and support national food security. It is our duty to make sure no land lies idle,” another added.
Chibero Agricultural College Principal, Mr Phillip Mushayi, said the institution’s goal is to produce self-reliant and innovative graduates in line with the government’s Agricultural Education for Development 5.0 model.
“Our graduation is running under the theme, “Agricultural Research and Innovation: The foundation for food security in Zimbabwe”. The college seeks to instil a self-reliance attitude in our students by encouraging them to experiment and innovate so as to come up with solutions to challenges that the agricultural sector faces. Honourable Minister of LARWRD, you are on record that you want colleges that churn out graduates who produce goods and services for the country. We seek to buttress this by instilling business sense in our students in response to the Agricultural Education for Development 5.0 curriculum you launched in 2021.”
Guest of Honour, the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Masuka, called on graduates to actively participate in Zimbabwe’s agriculture-led economic transformation.
“This year, we had a record tobacco production of 355 million kilogrammes, US$1.178 billion given to 135 000 farmers, 60% of them beneficiaries of the Land Reform Programme. On average, each one getting more than US$8 500. This is why we are moving away from Agricultural Education, 2.0, which focuses on training and extension, to Agricultural Education for Development 5.0. We are focusing on training, business advisory, research, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Today’s graduates must be able to stand on their own and succeed, as plot holders and agriculturalists.”
Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Marian Chombo, spoke on the importance of research and innovation in ensuring food self-sufficiency and national development.
“I would like to congratulate the college for contributing to the food security of the country. The college is actively involved in farming on itself and in its partnership with Pickeldon Investment.”
Under the Second Republic, agricultural training institutions are now aligning with the Agricultural Education for Development 5.0 model, a transformative curriculum aimed at producing graduates who are innovators, entrepreneurs, and key contributors to rural development and national food security.
