Is farming the solution to end poverty for youths in Zimbabwe?
High unemployment rate has seen many youths in Zimbabwe resorting to using illicit drugs, selling drugs and crime. However, during the past few months we have seen youths who have focused on farming and it is paying off quite well.
In February a young farmer from Banket was trending on social media for his tomato bumper harvest. Kudzai Nyagwededza at that point was harvesting 4800 crates weighing 30kg and looking at such numbers the farmer will make a fortune from tomato farming.
Another young farmer Terrence Maphosa has been growing and his outstanding work has seen him getting more successful. Terrence is into road runner breeding and he is gaining deserved recognition from the society and nation at large.
Rodney Tinashe Chitsove is another farmer who seems to be making it. Recently he updated his followers on Twitter that he has been harvesting 12 tonnes of butternut every day for the past two weeks on 5 Hectares of land. Of course there are challenges as Rodney has been showing the progress of his butternuts but one way or another one will make reasonable profits.
Is farming the solution to end poverty for youths in Zimbabwe?
People on social media are pleased with such excellent work being done by the mentioned three. Zimbabwe is a country that was the bread basket of Southern Africa and with many farmers like Kudzai, Terrence and Rodney, the country will get back to its great position.
Recently cases of drug abuse have been increasing with other youths in Zimbabwe going as far as taking used sanitary pads and boiling them just to get high. Many blame high unemployment and the terrible economic situation in the country. Others argue that it is high time the way youths think change and try avenues that will open doors for them. All of us cannot be employers but the few that dare, only the sky is the limit.
One might say farming requires a lot from inputs to time and most importantly the land but farming might be an avenue youths should look into. Despite how small the project is, with and determination it will surely grow because all the young farmers making it did not start at where they are today.