Staff Reporter
President Emmerson Mnangagwa will next week launch the innovative Provincial Agricultural Youth Incubators meant to orient youths into the business of agriculture. This was revealed by the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Jongwe Masuka at the 3rd National Young Farmer Champions Awards, in Harare yesterday.
In his statement Minister Masuka elucidated that the incubation centres were key to the orientation of youths into the business of agriculture, urging the youths to appreciate agriculture as a business.
“This thrust and mind-set must be anchored on seeking and exploiting entrepreneurial opportunities in agriculture. Youths should therefore perceive agriculture as a business,” said Minister Masuka.
Informing on the Government initiative to support and promote youths in agriculture, Minister Masuka said, “The Government has created an enabling environment for youth to thrive and prosper as businesswomen and businessmen in agriculture.
“First Government created, in March 2020, and for the first time in the history of the land reform programme, a youth quarter in the allocation of land of at least 20%. Also, Government is refining the model for youths’ entry into agriculture so that it is based on a pre-screening exercise.
“Furthermore, youths will also be exposed to all the other support services and support institutions in the agricultural ecosystem, from finance to agronomy, to marketing, among other issues,” said Minister Masuka.
Meanwhile, the Ministry recently launched the Agricultural Education for Development 5.0 (AE4D 5) module replacing the Agricultural (AE2) for all the 8 Agricultural Colleges. The module is set to focus on producing strong entrepreneurs and not extensionists.
