Online Reporter
Top veterinary extension officers in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development on Wednesday received awards for their outstanding performance in the digital in-service training examination.
Extension officers from around the country undergo an online in-service training examination every six months, as Government seeks to make its staff conversant with modern agricultural practices that enhance productivity.
The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr John Basera, said: “Capacitating extension delivery system is key to the transformation of the agriculture sector. The six months’ refresher modules are important in enhancing the skills of our extension officers who are agents of change in agriculture.”
He said technology is the future of agribusiness.
The veterinary extension in-service training saw over 4 000 participants graduating countrywide.
One of the winners, Mrs Patricia Chawafambira from Mashonaland East province, said she was happy to have participated in the programme.
“We are very excited to be the winners today. We did not waste the opportunity to enrol for this online course when the ministry introduced it,” she said.
“We are continuously being reminded of some things we might have forgotten and have learnt new things which we will implement in the field.”
The top performers were Patricia Chawafambira (Mashonaland East), Artwell Usavi (Mashonaland East), Tonderai Jiri (Mashonaland East), Eunice Sithole (Mashonaland Central) and Vitalis Chigwada (Matabeleland North).
Winners received US$140 cash, Samsung mobile phones, veterinary chemicals, among other prices.
The best provincial veterinary director award was given to Dr Felistas Ndlovu, who is the provincial director of Matabeleland North.