13 communal farmers complete master farmer program

REBECCA MAZVIDZA
TWO NATIONS REPORTER

BEITBRIDGE-Thirteen Beitbridge communal farmers have graduated with certificates after completing a two year master farmer training program.
The graduation ceremony was held on Monday at Zhove Farm under Chief Sitaudze in Beitbridge West.
The master farmer course program is being carried out by the Agricultural Rural Development and Advisory Services.
Chief Director for the Agricultural Rural Development and Advisory Services in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Professor Obert Jiri was the guest of honour.
The farmers were taught farming basics including crop rotation, soil conservation, animal production and climate.
The training program seeks to capacitate small scale rural farmers with basic agricultural knowledge and skills that will help transform them from subsistence to commercial farming.
Jiri applauded the farmers for completing the course and urged them to educate other communal farmers.
He also said the national winter wheat production is increasing its hectarage from 50 000 to 80 000 hectares this year.
The farmers received maize seeds as a way of encouraging other community members to enroll for the program.