Shot in the arm for Zimbabwe agriculture

Written by Lewis Jones, ZDDT Field Correspondent Thursday, 18 February 2010 18:24

ZDDT to aid the establishment of an agricultural training and research unit in Bulawayo.


Site of the proposed centre in the Trade Fair grounds.

Bulawayo, Zimbabwe – The improved dispensation ushered in with a National Unity Government in Zimbabwe, has set the stage for agriculture to receive boosting from a Zimbabwe Development Democracy Trust (ZDDT) initiative.

Intended for introduction in the very near future, the scheme involves setting up an Agricultural Training and Research unit at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre (Trade Fair Grounds) in Bulawayo.

Land and facilities were recently secured through a lease from the Bulawayo Agricultural Society, while confirmation of a development permit for the venture had been received from the Bulawayo City Council.

This has paved the way for its speedy commencement and implementation.

Training will include; organic vegetable growing, composting, vermiculture (breeding worms to produce fertilizer), herb cultivation, goat breeding and animal husbandry, permiculture, poultry rearing and a variety of other courses.

The projects overall vision, is to ensure that participants will acquire skills to improve their livelihood, through subjects designed to teach proper and improved methods in authorised rural and urban agricultural techniques.  Characteristically these will be low input, high output, intensive, organically and environmentally based.

South Western Zimbabwe is the intended catchment area for the pilot scheme in Bulawayo. The project is presently being funded by private subscriptions, and ZDDT will manage it.

Delivering a very short and sharp remark about his expectations concerning the new training centre, Mr Simon Spooner, ZDDT National Development Officer most aptly said, “This presents a wonderful and practical opportunity to empower impoverished people in restoring their dignity through food security and wealth creation.”