Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
YOUTHS in Agriculture have commended the Government for the land audit which they say should result in them getting pieces of land to push agricultural production.

There are around three million farmers in the country of which 40 percent are youth and of those 80 percent are leasing the land from farm barons or underperforming farmers.

Agricultural Youth Apex Council chairperson Mr John Muchenje said as the continent commemorates Africa Day today, the youths are celebrating the land which was fought for by our African forefathers and ensuring black African empowerment.

He said following the land audit which has been done, youth are now demanding land for Agriculture. We are happy that HE ED Mnangagwa has said youth and women are going to benefit from the land audit.

“We want our portion of the 40percent of the land which will be available. The good part is we know the land which is idle and not been used for years, this is the one we are demanding. As we celebrate Africa day, we celebrate unity which existed during the liberation struggle and now on the economic development. Our future aspirations are to feed Africa and make it the best Agriculture hub in the world,” said Mr Muchenje.

He said Africa day is intended to celebrate and acknowledge the existence of the African Union from its creation on May 25, 1963 in the fight against colonialism and apartheid, as well as the progress that Africa has made, while reflecting upon common challenges that the African continent faces.

However, Mr Muchenje who is the reigning Young Farmer of the year, said land allocation and equitable distribution of resources is still a common challenge in most countries.

He said the country has had more than 40 years of independence and still agricultural production and productivity is low.

“Climate change, famine, economic crisis, disease outbreaks and donor dependency have resulted in the slowed growth rate of African economies.

“With vast amounts of arable land Zimbabwean farming is the make-or-break challenge for global humanity over the next decades. More than half of all additional food which is required until 2050, is required in Africa and Zimbabwe plays critical role. For Zimbabwe to become self-sufficient and to begin recording a surplus there is need to restructure the economy and its land holding,” he said.

Mr Muchenje said landholding has been interlinked with various factors that include, political land scape, food security, and cultural perceptions.

He said such issues have made it difficult for youth, women, and the disadvantaged to gain proper access to landholding without being in the shadow of their parents or preferably their guardian.

Mr Muchenje said most youths are disconnecting themselves from agriculture and its associated value chain as they prefer to gain employment where they are trapped in a cycle of poverty with generally low inequitable incomes which do not allow for self-development and economic growth.

“Going forward Agricultural Youth Apex Council has come up with suggestive measures that need to be undertaken to address the issues hindering competitive agricultural production. It is important to consider the youth, women and disadvantaged in the redistribution of land which is supported by security of tenure which gives them a bundle of rights which are transferable and bankable in order to boost confidence for sustainable investment in agriculture,” he said.

Mr Muchenje said Zimbabwean agricultural landscape and land holding needs to change to avoid the risk of mass poverty, mass migration, income inequality, failed states, terrorism, and human misery due to poor health.

“There shall be no solutions to any of the above problems without addressing the story of land reform to the youthful population,” he said.