The Sunday News
Mesabe Ncube Business Reporter
THE Lupane State University contract farming training programme has been extended to Binga and Hwange districts as the institution continues spreading knowledge to farmers at household and community level in a bid to improve food security in the semi-arid areas in Matabeleland.
LSU Centre of Continuing Education director Dr Ndaba Ncube told Sunday Business that the training programme in Binga and Hwange started in September and will run until next month.
The institution carried a similar programme in Insiza and Matobo districts in 2012.
He said the training programmes were expected to address poverty issues as communal farmers will become self-reliant on food requirements.
“Our intention is to empower ordinary people so that what comes out of their labour and investment in terms of time is able to sustain them,” he said, adding that the projects are also expected to empower people with skills.
Contract farming is whereby farmers conduct their farming activities according to the agreement between them as farmers and the potential buyer.
LSU acting vice-chancellor Dr Getrude Nyakutse, also revealed during the fifth graduation ceremony recently that the university has secured a piece of land in Dete to further the university’s projects on training farming communities.
Another piece of land at the campus was also said to have been cleared for research purposes and as a demonstration centre for communal farmers.
Dr Nyakutse said LSU is charged with taking a leading role in agricultural development in the semi-arid region of Matabeleland.
