By Margaret Kamba
The story of sanctions is not complete without the mention of youths and their involvement in fighting the illegal imposed restrictions.
This is the reason why this year’s commemorations are being held under the theme "Harnessing the Youth for Accelerated Socio-Economic Development in the Fight Against Sanctions."
This is a loaded statement that recognizes the positive impact that our young people, well educated and innovative, are taking advantage of the technology at their disposal are doing wonders in every sector, especially farming.
Their enthusiasm is unparalleled, and given all the support they need, they will literally rocket-bullet this country into what no eye has seen or heard.
Golden Barley Enterprises located in the outskates of Kwekwe tells a story of young men who have seen the corporate world and opted out because they heard the clarion call to build their nation and felt could not do so in the clutches of the white collar industry.
Clad in their shorts, in the scorching heat with hats and sunglasses to ward off the sun, this is their world, their everyday life and they are more content to be here than anywhere else in the world.
To them, "tikasa rima, nyika inofa nenzara." This is their commitment to being part of the targets set by the government to feed the nation. It is their contribution to mankind and their part of President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa's mantra "nyika inovakwa nevene vayo."
According to Takudzwa and Tanaka Bonyongwa, if you slacken, you are doing so for yourself, so you must put all your effort into the business. The family business which started with their father, is now in their hands and they cannot afford to mess it up.
"I was working for Deloitte Touche but I left when I heard the clarion call by the government through the Land Reform Programme and I am very grateful for this opportunity that was given to us as young people because I was one of the beneficiaries," Takudzwa Bonyongwa said.
"When I came on board after completing my three year farming course, production was at 100 hectares, and now we are now commanding 650 hectares and have 450 cattle. We do crop production and cattle rearing.
"Our yields are 10, 2 to 11, 3 tonnes per hectare for maize during the summer cropping season and 3, 5 to 4 tonnes per hectare for soya beans. During the winter, we have 6, 5 to 7 tonnes per hectare of wheat and barley."
The array of top-notch machinery catches your eyes, and you wonder how such young people have managed to put together these. The eight-row non-till planter, the boom spray, the fertilizer sprayer, and the hay baler are just some of the big machines doing the work.
"We have a lot of equipment here that we got on loan from Farmec, Waterwright, Load Agro and Agricon. I approached the companies, and they saw the work that I did and gave me the equipment at zero deposit so that i could pay over two seasons. It is important to keep to your word when you commit yourself to something."
Takudzwa says, "We are young farmers, and we should show that we are educated by taking advantage of the technology that is in the industry. We need up to date machinery to achieve the tonnage and for efficiency," he said.
"I know some of these schemes such as that of the John Deere may not be accessible to all young people, I however urge government to set aside a stake for the young people so that as young people we carry on the work of making Zimbabwe the bread basket of Africa."
According to Tanaka, "You can not sleep when things are not working. Because the business is yours, when you slacken, you are doing so for yourself."
The young men know that farming is a business and that it must be profitable. The decisions they make, therefore, are centered on "return on investment which should be financially sound in order to buy equipment."