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Courtney Matende, Midlands Reporter 

THE Apex Council Board for Youth in Agriculture has commended Government for supporting agriculture through programmes such as the Presidential Input Support Scheme and Command Agriculture aimed at improving domestic food security.

In an interview, the newly appointed Apex Council Board Chairperson for Youth in Agriculture, Mr John Muchenje, said in support of the Government initiative to make the country a bread basket again – the board is going to descend on all provinces having interactions with youths encouraging them to embrace agriculture. 

“As Apex Council Board we are also going to descend on all provinces having interactions with the young farmers and Provincial State Ministers will be gracing the indabas throughout the country. We will be giving conference feedback, providing the much needed linkage between the Government and the young farmers with emphasis on access to land and farming inputs as well as tillage units and also getting views and concerns. We commend the Government for supporting agriculture through programmes such as Presidential Input Support Scheme and Command Agriculture programmes,” said Mr Muchenje.

He said tomorrow – the board is going to be in Mashonaland East for interactions with the young farmers.

“The Provincial Minister will be the guest of honour. I urge all young farmers in Mashonaland East to come and meet the provincial leadership and have their agriculture-related concerns ironed out. It’s our chance to participate in the national building through agriculture and support our President ED Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030,” said Mr Muchenje.

He said the new board was appointed into office last month during the Apex Council inaugural conference attended by more than 3 000 farmers from all 10 provinces.

“The Apex board is an umbrella board which represents young people in agriculture. It is the bridge between the Government and the youth in agriculture. Our mandate is to mediate between youth in agriculture and the Government. We collect the issues affecting youth in agriculture from all districts in the country and present to the Government to ensure that they are fulfilled.”

“Apex board has national, provincial and district wards. Ambassadors represent the youth in agriculture at different levels. We also have three extra committee members appointed to guide and advise the youth council board,” said Mr Muchenje.

He said as the youth they play a significant role in development of the country through ensuring food security.

“We need to make sure everyone is fed at a reasonable price and reduce importation bill through maximum production of maize, wheat and soya beans. We cannot fold our hands whilst we are importing these items,” he said.

Mr Muchenje said in terms of productivity they want to increase metric tonnes that are being delivered to the Grain Marketing Board this farming season by increasing the number of youths in agriculture. 

“We want to increase youth participants in agriculture. Currently we have 750 000 youths in agriculture but we want to double the number. We need to drive the youths by motivating them with equitable resources as well as access to finance,” he said.