The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Correspondent
YOUNG farmers have been urged to adopt conservation agriculture and agricultural solutions amid the climate change phenomenon.
Citing the success of the Pfumvudza/Intwasa climate smart farming in the previous farming season, Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) secretary general, Mr Paul Zakariya, said there was need to enhance the participation of young farmers in coming up with digital solutions as they embrace the digital revolution in agriculture.
He said this would reduce climate change challenges and climate smart farming would ensure that the country’s agriculture recovery projects become successful.
Mr Zakariya aired these sentiments while officiating at a recently held youth summit hosted by ZFU for young farmers at a local hotel.
He said Manicaland Province shares the glory with Mashonaland East as it did exceptionally well in adopting conservation agriculture last season amid climate change challenges.
“We conducted conservation agriculture projects in certain provinces of the country and I am glad to announce that Manicaland and Mashonaland East provinces performed exceptionally well in adopting this form of agriculture which helps in combating climate change effects.
“The projects were conducted through young farmers’ clubs, showing us that they have the know-how to curtail climate change challenges and should teach their senior counterparts,” he said.
Mr Zakariya said this shows that if everyone adopts conservation agriculture, the country’s harvest would hit record heights, and ensure food security at household level as envisaged in the National Development Strategy (NDS1).
He added that climate change was one of the major challenges hindering agriculture in the country before the adoption of climate smart agriculture like the Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme.
“Even though we are still to see the figures, there has been a remarkable improvement in our harvest from before we adopted Pfumvudza as a way of farming,” he said.
Mr Zakariya urged young farmers to be involved in the fight against climate change.
“Particularly on climate change and climate variability, as young people you should be seated on the table, and not be left on the sidelines as has been the norm. You are stakeholders in the climate change action and, therefore, you need to be involved in this fight,” he said.
He further urged the young farmers to create employment at local level and not wait for employers from elsewhere to rope them in.
“Employment is about ideas. Take advantage of climate change and conservation farming, and create employment for yourselves and your peers while showing older farmers who were used to traditional farming ways the way forward.
“As young people, this is not the time to be laying the blame on anyone for not doing what you are supposed to do. Network with fellow young farmers who are thriving even under difficult conditions and get ideas on how they are managing and making it.
“If you think that the world owes you anything, you should adjust that kind of thinking. The world does not owe you anything, you need to start working as young farmers,” said Mr Zakariya.
The purpose of the summit was to create a networking platform for young farmers as they shared success stories and open up opportunities for each other in agriculture, while increasing their involvement in decision-making positions at national level.
The summit ran under the theme “Climate Action: Nothing for us Without us”.
