Zimbabwe: Farmers Urged to Start Woodlots

Source from:  allAfrica.com 07/06/2012

"An estimated 46 000 hectares of forests were destroyed while 1,38 million cubic metres of firewood were burnt to cure part of the 127 million kilogrammes of tobacco delivered to the auction floors last year, Blackfordby College of Agriculture chairperson, Ginah Chipunza, told guests at a graduation ceremony last week. Chipunza said there was need for tobacco growing regions to establish woodlots to counter the effects of deforestation considering the 70 000 registered tobacco growers were small scale farmers relying heavily on wood for curing. "In southern Africa alone, an estimated 200 000 hectares of woodlands are cut annually to support tobacco framing. This accounts for 12 percent of deforestation in the region," said Chipunza , who was addressing guests at the graduation of at least 76 Blackfordby College of Agriculture students who completed a two-year training programme. The graduates comprised of three first class recipients, 18 general diploma with subject distinctions and 55 general diploma graduates. "Of the 76, only 12 are women, representing a mere 16 percent of the graduating class. "For us as a college, this is a worrisome figure with regards to gender balance and greater participation of women in mainstream agriculture. It is interesting to note, however, that despite the 16 percent representation, female graduates comprised 23 percent of the top 21 students who managed to obtain at least one or more distinctions in the taught disciplines of the course," the college's principal Moses Suluma said. From the 76, Jonathan Lowe was awarded a general diploma with subject distinctions post-humously after he died a week before the graduation ceremony. Blackfordby College's training programme offers formal training leading to the attainment of a diploma in agriculture after receiving academic recognition by the Ministry of Agriculture in 1976. "Despite being privately run, we are convinced that we serve a niche segment of the agricultural sector in Zimbabwe, and do complement efforts by other agricultural colleges as we work together in churning out the much needed human capital for the resuscitation of agriculture in Zimbabwe. "The Blackfordby diploma programme offers both practical and theoretical training in the disciplines of animal production, crop production, farm mechanisation and farm management. "During the second year, students also attend a course in entrepreneurship and business management where the thrust is on preparing them to be creators of wealth and employment opportunities for others as opposed to becoming mere job seekers. "We take cognisance of the realities of our economy in terms of the shrinking formal sector employment base and have thus taken the initiative to prepare our graduates for any eventuality," Suluma said. Apart from the main diploma programme, the college runs a series of tailor-made short courses for practising farmers to boost production considering the achievable yield in tobacco is 2 500 kg/per hectare, yet farmers are averaging 1000 kg/ha. Students walked away with diplomas, while distinguished graduands were awarded floating trophies and prizes in recognition of their achievements in individual disciplines of the programme. Enditem