by Innocent Mujeri
Minister of State for Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs, Senator Monica Mavhunga has commended President Emmerson Mnangagwa for launching the Piggery Scheme under the Presidential Livestock Scheme, which has the potential of changing livelihoods by creating employment and assuring food security in the country.
Speaking at the inaugural Training of Trainers (ToT) programme for Agricultural Extension workers and other agriculture stakeholders held at Chaminuka Vocational Training Centre in Mount Darwin yesterday, Senator Mavhunga urged beneficiaries of the piggery scheme and all other stakeholders in the agricultural sector to maximise production in order to assists in the revival of the country’s economy.
“I want to thank President Mnangagwa for launching the piggery scheme this year in May. The piggery scheme is noble as it has the potential to positively transform people’s lives as it creates employment and assures food security in the country. For the scheme to be a success, we need to work hard in whatever we do so that we can play a part in the fulfilment of President Mnangagwa’s Vision of an Upper Middle Income economy by the time we reach year 2030,” said Senator Mavhunga.
Senator Mavhunga also said the Government is ready to assist all those who are playing a part in the revival of the economy and she urged the attendees not to hesitate in approaching her office if they need any assistance.
The Piggery Training of Trainers programme which was attended by Acting Mashonaland Central Provincial Development Coordinator Mr Cosmas Chiringa, Mashonaland Central Provincial Agricultural Extension officer, Mr Stancilae Tapererwa, Deputy Director in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement, Ms Abigail Takaendesa and representatives from the Zimbabwe Women's Microfinance Bank and Empower Bank, was meant to equip Agricultural Extension workers with knowledge on the rearing of pigs. The trained officers are expected to further disseminate the information to other farmers so that they get to know the best methods of keeping pigs for commercial purposes.
At least 40 Agriculture Extension workers attended the event and they were offered training ranging from issues such as feeding and management of pigs, breeding and reproduction, financial literacy, records management, budgeting as well as piggery health and diseases, among other issues.
One Agriculture Extension officer, Phillip Chakaoma, who attended the training thanked organisers of the program and said such training should be a regular event as it equips extension workers with new and relevant information on agriculture.
“Such training programs and refresher courses should be conducted regularly to equip Agricultural Extension workers and farmers with the new and best knowledge about agriculture. Agriculture is now a million dollar project, hence the need for continuous training on how to maximise production on farms,” said Chakaoma.
The ToT program was attended by participants from Districts such as Mt Darwin, Mbire, Rushinga, Guruve, Shamva, Mazowe and Bindura.
All participants received certificates which were handed over to them by Mashonaland Central Provincial Head in the Ministry of Women’s Affairs , Community, Small and Medium Enterprises, Mrs Judith Hove and Chaminuka Training Centre Principal, Mr Alois Musariri.
The participants also received branded face masks from Springwell Global Foundation, a private organisation which is partnering with young farmers, which was represented by their Director Tafadzwa Chimi.
Speaking to the publication, one of the organisers of the ToT programme who is also the Chief Programs Coordinator Youth Desk in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement, Mr Nickros Kajengo, said the ToT program will be rolled out to all the country’s ten Provinces. The next Province to receive similar training will be Masvingo next Monday, followed by Mashonaland West the next day.
