Agriculture Editor
A Korean non-governmental organisation, Korea International Co-operation Agency (Koica), will soon open an agricultural training centre in Seke communal lands to provide technical skills to farmers and students.

The institute, whose construction is scheduled to be completed next month, will be known as the Agriculture Training Institute.
Most of the buildings are already complete while the District Development Fund (DDF) has already drilled three boreholes to support irrigation and the surrounding communities.

In an interview last week, Koica executive director Mr Hyeon Naesik said the training facility would help leverage the land reform programme by equipping beneficiaries with technical expertise.

He said students will attend classes free of charge, adding that the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arta and Culture would be involved in the formulation of the curriculum.
“We aim to train farmers as well as students in agriculture skills that will benefit the country,’’ he said.

He said Koica founder Mr Jaeheung Cho, who is also in Zimbabwe, decided to set up the institute after realising the need to equip farmers with technical skills.
“We are working hand in hand with Government departments to make sure  those trained here will be of use to the agriculture sector considering that  Zimbabwe’s economy is based on the growth of this critical sector,’’ said Mr Naesik.

Mr Naesik said apart from the agriculture institute, Koica has also set up a pre-school to cater for the local community.
The NGO provides their food and uniforms.