Education

Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development

The Department of Agricultural Education and Farmer Training

Vision

To have a highly productive and sustainable agricultural sector.

Mission

To produce knowledgeable, skilled and entrepreneurial agricultural graduates

Policy objectives

1. Assure national household food security
2. Ensuring the maintenance and improvement of the agricultural resource base
3. Generate income and employment for agricultural college graduates.
4. Contribute to sustainable industrial development through the provision of home grown agricultural raw materials and
5. Expand significantly the agricultural sector’s contribution to the Gross Development Product.

Overall Policy Statement

In the overall context of consolidating the Land Reform and Redistribution Program; Zimbabwe’s agricultural policy shall aim to achieve and sustain food security at both household and national levels, improve and increase food crop, industrial, livestock and horticultural crop production capacity in quantity and quality through the use and application of modern technology. To provide for adequate financing infrastructure and working capital for both the farmer and supporting institutions; and preserve the land for future posterity by promoting conservation agriculture and adapting to climate change. Appropriate legislation will be enacted to further support and strengthen this policy thrust.

Goals

To provide youngsters, aspiring agriculturists, farmers and scientists with the right attitude, an appreciation of the importance of the sector, farming knowledge, skills and science in the practice of agriculture in order to:

1. Provide entrepreneurial and adequately trained personnel capable of steering vibrant agricultural operations in order to achieve sustainable agricultural productivity nationally.
2. Build and maintain a pool of skilled, competent and innovative core personnel, capable of meeting the diverse needs of various stakeholders such as producers, processors, marketers, researchers, administrators, planners and other agribusiness experts who drive the agricultural sector towards the attainment of its vision.
3. Provide short term training and education to farmers on identified problems and keep them abreast with current development in the sector.
4. Have agricultural colleges being centers of excellence in their respective localities.

Historical background

The Department of Agricultural Education and Farmer Training operated as a branch under the Ministry of Agriculture for years since the 1950s. It was elevated to departmental level in 2004 when its span of control was expanded from the traditional seven to 14 agricultural colleges.

The department currently oversees a total of colleges in the training of students at certificate to diploma level. It intends to ensure that there is at least one college in all the administrative provinces of the country. The eight operational colleges are distributed as follows :

Mashonaland West - Gwebi (Harare), and Chibero (Norton)
Mashonaland Central - Mazowe Veterinary College (Mazowe) and Shamva (Shamva)
Mashonaland East - Kushinga Phikelela (Marondera)
Midlands – Mlezu (Kwekwe) and Rio Tinto (Kadoma)
Matabeleland South – Esigodini (Esigodini)

COURSES OFFERED

Diploma in Agriculture

This program is run by Chibero, Esigodini, Gwebi, Mlezu, Rio Tinto, and Shamva agricultural colleges.

Diploma in Commercial Farming

This program is being offered by Kushinga Phikelela.

Entry qualifications - A minimum of five Ordinary levels passes including Mathematics, English Language and
Science.

Duration - For Certificate in Agriculture holders it will be two years (they are exempted from one year of
attachment) and for non-certificate holders it will be 3 years (first year at college, second year on attachment
and the third year at the college)

The course usually commences on the first Monday of September of every year and the year will end in July of
the following year. Applications are usually accepted in the colleges from December to February. These can be
posted, or they can be hand delivered. Interviews are usually held during the April holidays and successful
applicants will start the year in September.

Higher National Diploma in Animal Health, Diploma in Animal Health and Production, Diploma in Livestock and Carcass Grading and Diploma in Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis

These are specialist qualifications which are being offered by Mazowe Veterinary College only.

Entry requirements - Five ‘O’ Level subjects including English, Maths and a science subject or a Certificate in
Animal Health or equivalent for the Diploma courses and any of the Diplomas for the Higher national Diploma course.

Duration - Two years for non-certificate holders and 0ne year for holders of Certificate in Animal Health. Provisionally, applications are accepted in September and the academic year commences in January of every year.

Higher National Diploma in Animal Production

This program is offered by Chibero College only and it runs parallel to the National Diploma in Agriculture course. Currently there has not been any demand for the Higher National Diploma and it is provided only on demand.

Entry requirements- Five Ordinary level passes including Mathematics, English Language and Science and
Diploma in Agriculture or a Diploma in Animal Health.

Duration -The course runs for one year from September to July, the applications are accepted at the same time as
those for the National Diploma in Agriculture Program.

Higher National Diploma in Horticulture

This program is offered by Gwebi Agricultural College only and it runs parallel to the National Diploma in Agriculture Program.

Entry requirements - Five Ordinary level passes including Mathematics, English Language and Science, and either a Diploma in Agriculture or Horticulture.

ASSOCIATESHIP

1. University of Zimbabwe - Gwebi and Chibero Colleges
2. Midlands State University -Esigodini, Mlezu and Rio Tinto Colleges.
3. Bindura University of Science Education – Shamva College.
4. Kushinga Phikelela and Mazowe are working towards affiliating themselves to universities.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Agricultural Research and Extension, Education (Schools and colleges), Farm management, Agro-industries (Agrochemical companies, Farm equipment manufacturers, Seed houses, processing, value addition and export companies), Commerce (banks), Agricultural consultancy, Wildlife management and game farming, Tourism, Farming (entrepreneurship), NGOs (Projects).

CONTACT DETAILS

Chibero Agricultural College. P. Bag 901, Norton.
Phone # 062-2230/38/39,
Cell # 0773292380

Esigodini Agricultural College, P. Bag 5808, Esigodini.
Phone # 088-270/97

Gwebi College, P. Bag 376B Harare,
Phone # 04-2932486
Email: gwebiagric@yahoo.com

Kushinga Phikelela Agriculture College
P. Bag 3705, Marondera.
Phone# 0279-2424228/22091
Email: kushingaphikelelanftc@gmail.com.
Website: www.kushingaphikelelanftc.ac.zw

Mazowe Vet College. P.O Box 20. Mazowe,
Phone # 075-2771-2,
Email: docdonora@yahoo.com