Uzumba finally gets college

THE much-awaited agricultural college in rural Uzumba will finally be established after years of resistance by villagers.

The state-of-the-art farmer training institute will be constructed in Machanzi Village in the district.

The college was initially pegged to be established in Nyamhara area, but failed to take off after villagers claimed that the institution would take their farming land.

It is expected to enrol a total of 200 students and employ more than 50 people initially.

Speaking during the ground breaking ceremony of the Machanzi Agricultural Training Centre yesterday, Uzumba legislator Simbaneuta Mudarikwa (Zanu PF) said the institution would go a long way in empowering the community with farming knowledge.

“This institution will go a long way in correcting the mind-sets of people in farming, hence increasing yield at household level. Climate change is real and the villagers will benefit a lot through getting proper information on it,” he said.

The construction is being funded by a local nongovernmental organisation Community Technology Development Organisation (CTDO).

CTDO executive director Andrew Mushita said the college would also serve as a research centre on farming.

“Most households have challenges in grain and seed storage at post-harvest, therefore, the institute will seek to conduct research and demonstrate appropriate grain storage technologies which will be readily accessed by the community members in the hinterland and beyond,” he said.

The centre will also benefit farmers and youths from the neighbouring Maramba-Pfungwe constituency.