Work towards Vision 2030, agric graduates urged
LANDS, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement Minister Perrance Shiri has called for the capacitation of agricultural colleges to produce quality graduates who will serve the nation and offer solutions to the challenges being faced in the sector.
He said this yesterday while officiating at the Gwebi Agricultural College’s 67th graduation ceremony where 94 graduates received their National Diplomas in Agriculture.
Minister Shiri expressed concern that agricultural colleges had serious shortages of tractors and other farm machinery such as planters, ploughs, disc harrows and hay making equipment.
He noted that the colleges did not have buses and vehicles, which was negatively impacting on their ability to discharge their duties.
“Very few colleges have been given replacements of vehicles over the past 10 or so years,” said Minister Shiri. “I fully understand these challenges and would like to assure you that I will look into these issues and hopefully find some answers.
“I agree that all colleges must be well-equipped to produce quality graduates who will serve the nation better than under-trained graduates.”
Minister Shiri urged the graduates to focus on Government’s major goals that include food production and productivity in maize, wheat, and small grains, guaranteeing national food security.
He said graduates should also focus on increased production of cash crops such as tobacco, cotton, soyabeans and horticulture.
“Graduates should focus on increased livestock production, particularly the building of the national beef and dairy herd, increased utilisation of modern technology and innovations in agriculture such as irrigation, water harvesting, conservation agriculture, climate smart agriculture and many other methodologies,” said Minister Shiri.
“As we focus on the nation’s Vision 2030 where we desire to see a Zimbabwe that is a middle income economy, there is a lot of work that we, in agriculture, must do. We must eradicate hunger, poverty and poor livelihood. Through improved productivity and production in the agricultural sector, we can eliminate hunger and poverty and improve incomes of our people.
“This is the only way we can achieve a middle income status for the majority of our people. I, therefore, want to respect that those in agriculture, particularly people like you graduates, must utilise the knowledge and skills that you have learnt here at Gwebi College to achieve the goals that I have mentioned above.”
Minister Shiri said Government introduced Command Agriculture to boost production and ensure the country was food secure.
Under Command Agriculture, Government has promoted production of maize, soyabeans, poultry and beef.
Minister Shiri urged farmers to take advantage of Government programmes to boost production.
He hinted that college advisory boards responsible for training, infrastructure development, farming projects, resource mobilisation among others should be reintroduced at colleges.
Minister Shiri expressed concern that only 35 of the 94 graduates were female, and urged the college to work towards a 50:50 ratio in line with today’s gender expectations.
Gwebi Agricultural College principal Dr William Matizha said since 1950 when the college was established, 2 514 students had graduated with diplomas in agriculture.
Dr Matizha expressed concern that infrastructure at the college was now old.
“Tractors, vehicles, the bus, machinery and other educational facilities are generally 10-20 years old,” he said. “Our breeding livestock is in dire need of rejuvenation.
“I plead with Government to give agricultural colleges the support that will make them more relevant, modern and effective.”
Dr Matizha said he was glad that the college had a 100 percent pass rate.