The ENABLE-TAAT project of IITA has provided agribusiness training for no fewer than 249 youths in Zimbabwe, as part of its drive to deepen its presence in southern and western African countries as well as equip young people to lead sustainable and profitable agribusiness ventures.
The training, which took place in Mashonaland West and Manicaland provinces, with the support of the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Production, enhanced the participants’ entrepreneurial and business management skills while promoting critical thinking, sound decision-making and financial literacy among the participants.
The modules covered by the exercise included mindset orientation, entrepreneurship basics, business model development, financial management, marketing strategies, leadership skills, and cooperative formation.
To facilitate access to finance, the ENABLE-TAAT team also initiated interactions between the trainees and representatives of various financial institutions, who introduced them to the available credit facilities for young entrepreneurs.
The banks represented included the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) Commercial Bank, Zimbabwe Women’s Microfinance Bank, National Microfinance Bank (NMB Bank), and Empower Bank.
The training was also extended to young people under the Presidential Community Fisheries Scheme in Hauna, Mutasa District, through the collaboration of Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. After the training, the government distributed 21,000 fingerlings to the youths in Hauna as part of support for their business startup.
Extension officers from Hauna and Makanye districts have promised to transfer the knowledge gained during the training to their communities, including soft skills for young female farmers.
Contributed by Akinola Caleb Ogunsola