AGRICULTURAL colleges are central to the achievement of National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) goals as they produce graduates that are ready to produce for the nation since they would have acquired the requisite skills.

This was said recently by the Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Douglas Karoro, on behalf of Minister Dr Anxious Masuka, during the 57th graduation ceremony at Chibero College of Agriculture.

Sixty-four students graduated on the day. Deputy Minister Karoro said Chibero was on the right track in building its excellent reputation as a tested centre of knowledge in Zimbabwe.

He applauded the graduates and said they play a key role in society and nation at large through offering extension services to all sectors of the farming community as well as creating employment opportunities through innovation and entrepreneurial activities.

“To help achieve the aspirations of the NDS1, it is my respectful submission that it is the agricultural colleges that are best situated to add value by preparing and producing work-ready graduates who have skills and the will to become entrepreneurs,” said Deputy Minister Karoro.

“It is gratifying to note that the college managed to prepare and examine these graduating students under very stringent conditions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic affected normal day-to-day learning and agricultural practices expected from all students.

“In pursuit of attaining an upper middle income society by 2030, President Mnangagwa put the country on a roadmap and development strategies to achieve Vision 2030.”

On July 28, the Ministry of Agriculture launched the new Agricultural Education for Development 5.0 curricula, which is one of the milestones in the Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Strategy, which is a pillar for NDS1.

Deputy Minister Karoro said the graduates are therefore expected to practice what they learnt in a business manner and transform the small holder sector through pursuing the new curricula. Chibero College of Agriculture principal Mr Philip Mushayi said for Vision 2030 to succeed, they needed to invest in the youth.

“To this end, two lecturers were trained on soft skills for green jobs for rural youth sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

“Forty students from Ward 15 were trained on green enterprise for three weeks and currently the college is training 18 youths in nursery management and horticulture under the Smallholder Irrigation Revitalisation Programme,” he said.

Government wants to transform the agriculture sector into a US$8,2 billion sector by 2025 and various strategies such as revitalising irrigation and ensuring that all provinces produce crops despite their ecological region, have been put in place.