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(HERALD) Agric colleges challenged to broaden curriculum

Agric colleges challenged to broaden curriculum
Friday, 28 October 2011 00:00
Herald Reporter

AGRICULTURAL colleges have been challenged to broaden their curriculum in farm education to meet the requirements of farmers in different sectors.

Speaking at the Chibero Agricultural College Golden Jubilee celebrations recently, agricultural economist Professor Mandivamba Rukuni said the colleges should affiliate with the University of Zimbabwe.

"In Zimbabwe, we have large and small scale farmers who should be trained in the dynamics of farming, so we need to affiliate the colleges with the UZ to train farmers in agro-business," he said.

"The colleges can offer diplomas in horticulture and farm business management.

"Agriculture has been a part of our lives and we need to modernise it and not Westernise the practice."

Chibero Agricultural College acting principal Mr Phillip Tichafa said the college was working towards equipping farmers, especially those newly resettled.

"The college, in line with the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development's policy embarked on a certificate training programming in 2004," he said.

"The certificate programme ended this year after the attainment of the required personnel in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development.

"With effect from this year, a new programme, the Block Release for upgrading the extension personnel was kick started."

Chibero has reviewed it's curricula to incorporate courses on HIV, the effects of climate change and conservation agriculture. It is the oldest agricultural college in Zimbabwe having been established in the then

Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland in 1961.

The college was mandated to train blacks in the science and practice of commercial agriculture.

Over the past 50 years, it has produced graduates who have taken leadership roles in various sectors.

Labels: AGRICULTURE, EDUCATION

posted by MrK @ 5:16 PM