Young farmers urged to play their role

21 Dec, 2014 - 00:12 0 Views

The Sunday News

Nqobizitha Dhlamini Business Reporter
THE recently launched Young Farmers’ Association of Zimbabwe has urged young people to play their part in improving the economy and personal financial stability by embracing agricultural activities and taking a lead in the sector.

Speaking at the official launch of the association held at the Bulawayo Hunt Club last week, chairperson, Mr Ayanda Ndlovu, said they intended to represent young farmers who lack full representation in existing farmers’ unions that represent farmers in the country.

“Young farmers are often not taken seriously hence as a result they are not fully represented in the already existing farming bodies. It is difficult for a young person to overcome certain challenges like lack of resources as a single entity thus proper representation is required,” he said.

Mr Ndlovu said the association sought to encourage young people as well as create a drive among them to try out agriculture as a source of income.

“We want to change the mindset that the youth have that farming is mainly for the senior citizens. Farming can be exciting even for the young people, all they have to do is to find the projects that they are passionate about or rather farming activities that they might be interested in,” he said.

Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers’ Union (ZCFU) chairman, Mr Winston Babbage, who was the guest of honour at the event said the initiative taken by the young farmers was impressive.

“It pleases me to see our future leaders taking the bull by its horns and doing something for themselves. Gone are the days when youngsters preyed on their father’s inheritance but in this day young people join the economic struggle.

“We will help these young farmers as much as possible in their activities as they are young and some lack experience but we are there to show them the way. The farming sector needs these young people as they will also bring a fresh mindset to the sector which is exactly what we need,” said Mr Babbage.

Mr Babbage urged young people to take the issue of land ownership seriously so as to start building their future.

“Young people should learn to embrace and utilise some land programmes so that they are also allocated land for farming. This will help them conduct various projects that will help their personal growth and financial stability,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Extension Services (Arex) provincial agricultural extension specialist, Mr Alta Ndlovu, said the YFAZ had created a great opportunity for the department of extension services to interact and link with the youth and assist them.

“This is a great initiative and our doors are very open to the youth who wish to take on farming activities. As a department we have training programmes hence we will be more than happy to assist the youth in their various farming points of interests.

“Young people should not only be ahead in the technology of social networks but should also take a keen interest in farming technologies,” said Mr Ndlovu.

The YFAZ already has young people embarking on various projects including bee keeping, mushroom growing and horse breeding.

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