By Rudo Saungweme

President Emmerson Mnangagwa officially opened the 2019 National Young Champion Farmer Awards at the Botanic Gardens in Harare yesterday.

Speaking during the official opening of the National Young Champion Farmer Awards, President Mnangagwa said he felt honoured to officiate the event as it recognises and appreciates young productive farmers.

“I feel honoured to officiate this inaugural National Young Champion Farmers Awards which seeks to recognize and appreciate young productive farmers who are making significant contribution to the attainment of our national goal of food security and nutrition. Their collective achievement undoubtedly contributes towards the eradication of hunger and poverty in communities and enhances empowerment of young people,” said the President.

President Mnangagwa also said agriculture was the backbone of Zimbabwe’s economy, hence the need to reward young farmers.

He said the increased participation of young people in the Agricultural Sector was a just development which reinforces the irrefutable importance of our Land Reform Program.

President Mnangagwa said his Government welcome formalisation of the National Young Farmers Association since the Agriculture Sector contributes between 16 to 20 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 40 percent of export earnings and employs the majority of Zimbabwe’s population.

The President implored youths to be innovative and to adopt smart agricultural practices.

“Young people are thus challenged to be innovative and adopt smart agricultural practices which harness new farming technologies, green energy solutions and contemporary conservation farming techniques to improve productivity,” said President Mnangagwa.

The President encouraged young farmers to also adopt traditional crops and new seed varieties to increase their yields.

The event saw young farmers going home with various awards. Seedco gave a gift of ten tonnes of maize seed to President Mnangagwa. The President in turn said he would give the maize seed to those farmers who are in need.