Education 5.0 ups milk production at Gwebi
THE Education 5.0 concept introduced by the Government in higher and tertiary institutions continues to bear fruit for the nation, with Gwebi College of Agriculture now producing 200 litres of milk daily.
Under this model, students at colleges, polytechnics, vocational training institutions and universities are encouraged to engage in outcome-focused national development activities to ensure a productive, competitive, modern and industrialised Zimbabwe.
The Mashonaland West-based college now supplies milk to one of the country’s largest dairy companies, Dairibord, among other players.
In 2021, Palmline Investments, a subsidiary of giant platinum company Zimplats helped to renovate the milking parlour and donated 20 in-calf heifers and a bull to the agricultural college.
The dairy parlour at the institution was officially commissioned last year by Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga, who was represented by Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka.
Speaking to The Sunday Mail, Agriculture
and Rural Development Advisory Services (ARDAS) Mashonaland West director Mrs Evely Ndoro said the college was playing a pivotal role in the country’s bid to reduce milk imports.
“We commend Gwebi for the role it is playing in the milk industry.
“What is fascinating now is the impact of how ramping up local production has contributed to import substitution. In 2021, our milk products and milk powder imports amounted to 8,9 million kilogrammes and this dropped by 17 percent to 7,4 million kg in 2022.”
Import substitution, Mrs Ndoro said, has also seen employment creation throughout the entire milk industry value chain.
She lauded the partnership that exists between Gwebi and Palmline Investments.
“We are going for growth in terms of milk production in the dairy subspace. Gwebi is leading by example as an epitome of the agriculture and dairy excellency. We want to achieve self-sufficiency in the milk industry. I call upon other colleges to boost production in all facets of agriculture and I give special plaudits to Palmline Investments for their decision to work with the college.”
Palmline Investment’s finance and administration executive Ms Danai Chirenje said the company was looking forward to signing a five-year memorandum of understanding with the college.“Palmline will continue investing in the college by providing sour milk processing equipment in
the interim. As the herd size is growing, we will continue to engage Gwebi for provision of more land to grow pastures and snap corn for the dairy animals,” she said.
Gwebi’s principal, Mrs Shupikai Sibanda, said: “We give thanks to Government and Palmline for the
support they gave to the institution so that we implement Education 5.0. We are also proud of our students for the commitment and hard work they are showing.”
The college has at least 278 dairy cows, with at least 200 milked daily. In addition to milk, Gwebi college has
also enhanced production in maize and wheat.
This year, the college produced 50 tonnes of the recently harvested winter wheat, while it is putting 96 hectares of land under the climate-proofed Pfumvudza/Intwasa Scheme.