While agriculture
forms an integral part of Zimbabwe’s economy, many young people still think of
it as back-breaking labour that offers little economic benefit. However, things
are slowly changing. A growing number of young people are starting to see
agriculture as a viable career option.
28-year-old Terence
Maphosa is among a new generation of agripreneurs who are invigorating the
agriculture sector with their innovative initiatives.
A Political Science
graduate from the University of Zimbabwe, Maphosa’s dream was to land a
white-collar job in the city after finishing college.
A year and a half
after graduating from college, circumstances pushed Maphosa to start breeding
and selling indigenous chicken breeds popularly known as roadrunners at his rural home in Mhondoro-Ngezi, about
170km from the capital Harare.
Roadrunner is a colloquial
name for a free-range exotic breed of chicken that scavenges for food. Their
meat is tougher and is considered by many to be tastier than broilers.
His breeds include
the Black Australorp, Koekoek,
Light Sussex, Kuroila and Jersey Giant.
While many young
people in Zimbabwe view agriculture as the domain for the less educated and
consider rural to urban migration as the only ticket out of poverty, Maphosa
has made a name for himself in the village.
Apart from rearing
exotic chickens, Maphosa is also involved in crop farming — but he focuses on maize, sunflower, sorghum and soya
beans as a means to reduce the costs of
buying feeds.
Indigenous chickens
have gained popularity among Zimbabweans as they offer a healthier organic
option and a business opportunity.
Unlike broilers, the birds are cheaper to rear as they
thrive on natural foods such as grains, worms and insects.
Maphosa’s success in agribusiness has caught the attention of many young people on social media where he regularly posts about his day-to-day life.
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