Online agric college enrols farmers
CLOSE to 100 farmers have enrolled with the Zimbabwe Online Agricultural College (ZOAC), a recently established learning institution that seeks to plug agricultural production and management capacity gaps in farming communities, especially for beneficiaries of the land reform programme.
ZOAC is a first-of-its-kind virtual college that uses internet-based technologies to provide digitised competence-based agricultural education.
Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development deputy director, agricultural education (curriculum development), Mr Francis Vengai, said enrolment was ongoing.
“More than 150 farmers have shown interest in enrolling, but those who have registered to date are above 90,” he said in an interview.
“The enrolment was initially supposed to be closed on September 8, 2023, but it has since been extended to accommodate late applicants and ensure all logistics necessary for the smooth running of the two courses that are on offer.”
He said students who enrol with the college must have access to land, where they will carry out practical learning.
“These will be monitored virtually and physically by lecturers, who do random visits to respective farmers.
“Mind you, we also have business advisory officers dotted throughout the country, who can also be empowered to supervise every farmer or executive who embarked on the two courses.”
Presently, the college is offering two courses, an executive certificate in business management and a general certificate in business management, which cost US$500 and US$400 per semester, respectively.
“The courses have a duration of one year,” said Mr Vengai.
“The certificates relate to level four of the Zimbabwe National Qualification Framework (ZNQF).”
Level four of the ZNQF is equivalent to a diploma qualification.
Modules covered under the executive certificate in agricultural business management include communication and ICT applications; farm production potential; strategic farm planning and decision-making; strategic agricultural marketing; labour productivity; and farm performance monitoring and evaluation.
Under the general certificate in agricultural business management, students undergo training in farm power; farm planning and management; farm mechanisation and structures; agricultural marketing; irrigation management; animal production; beef cattle and dairy production; apiculture and aquaculture; poultry production; and small stock production.
“Evaluation of students’ performance is by continuous assessment through assignments submitted by the student, practical project submitted and end-of-semester examinations,” he continued.
“For students outside Zimbabwe, we are partnering with agricultural colleges and universities that will assist.
“However, with time, our lecturers would be offered time to go and physically assess the students.”
In July last year, Agriculture Minister Dr Anxious Masuka launched the Agricultural Education for Development (AE4D) 5.0 curriculum, which is anchored by five key pillars — training; agricultural business advisory services; problem-based research; innovation; and entrepreneurship and enterprise development.
Presently, Zimbabwe has eight agricultural training institutions — Esigodini Agricultural College (Matabeleland South); Chibero and Gwebi agricultural colleges (Mashonaland West); Mlezu and Rio Tinto agricultural colleges (Midlands); Mazowe Veterinary College (Mashonaland Central); Shamva Agricultural College; and Kushinga-Phikelela (Mashonaland East).