The Sunday Mail
Wallace Ruzvidzo
Sunday Mail Correspondent
THE Agriculture Technical and Extension Services (Agritex) has begun recruiting officers to fill vacancies in Matabeleland North and South provinces, in a development that is expected to boost delivery of extension services in the areas.
Government has given Agritex the green light to hire over 120 extension officers after staff shortages hampered distribution of inputs for this year’s summer cropping season under the Climate-Proofed Presidential Inputs Scheme.
Agritex acting director Mr Stancilae Tapererwa said the parastatal had requested approval to hire more officers to comprehensively address the crippling staffing gaps.
“Initially we advertised for 123 officers to cover for staff shortages mainly in Matabeleland North and South provinces,” said Mr Tapererwa.
“We have already taken on board quite a number of officers since advertising for the openings and conducted requisite job interviews.
“We are waiting for Government to approve our request for more staff, over and above the postings that have already been opened up.”
He said the parastatal’s operations were further affected by the Covid-19-induced national lockdown, which forced a partial halt to business.
“Now that we are returning to normalcy, I think we need to speed up operations. We are hoping that with the coming on board of the new extension officers, we can speed up the conclusion of the Pfumvudza programme in Matabeleland North and South.”
In order to operate optimally, Agritex requires 4 790 extension workers, 505 agricultural extension supervisors and 563 veterinary extension staff.
However, only 1 312 of the posts were occupied by July. He said Agritex continues to receive motorcycles mobilised by President Mnangagwa to facilitate easy and secure movement of extension officers in farming areas.
Earlier this year, the President marshalled 5 000 motorcycles that will be used to effectively capacitate extension workers.
Transport shortages have for years hindered the movement of extension officers, consequently affecting their impact in farming communities.
Agritex has 620 functional motorbikes and 900 non-runners, while the veterinary services has 315 motorcycles, 61 of which are non-runners.
Mr Tapererwa said the motorcycles are being received in batches. The rolling out of motorcycles sourced by the President is on-going.
“We are receiving them in batches and at the conclusion of distribution, we are certain that we will have enough for all extension workers.”
Reorientation plan
Government plans to reorient Agritex into a business advisory service, offering business advice to subsistence farmers.
In a recent interview with The Sunday Mail, Lands, Agriculture Water and Rural Resettlement Minister Dr Anxious Masuka said the reorientation plan seeks to confer farmers with a commercial mind-set.
“Agritex has to do business as unusual; we now have to transform Agritex from just providing extension services into business advisory so that every farmer has a business mind-set,” said Dr Masuka.
“This is so that whenever they cultivate they know that it is not just for subsistence but also for commerce. “Which is why in the Pfumvudza programme there is one plot for food security and there is also one for you to be able to sell to GMB. But we need the delivery mechanism.
“That is why we are motorising Agritex physically so that they can be able to get to the farmers easily.
“But we also need to motorise their brains through change management so that they become genuine business advisors to farmers.”
