THE Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) has once again demonstrated its commitment to national development, going beyond its core mandate of rehabilitating inmates by hosting an agricultural expo at Anju Farm in Matabeleland North Province.
Held under the theme of agricultural empowerment, the expo drew participation from surrounding farming communities and offered practical lessons in crop production, particularly focusing on fertiliser use ahead of the summer cropping season.
“We gained valuable knowledge on fertiliser usage, which will undoubtedly boost our farming businesses,” a farmer said.
“The expo was a game-changer for us. We learned exactly which fertilisers to use and how to apply them effectively, and this new expertise will greatly benefit our agricultural ventures,” a communal farmer said.
The initiative also targeted farmers involved in winter wheat production, while building capacity for tomato, cabbage, and watermelon farming ahead of the 2025 summer season.
“This expo is targeting farmers around Bulawayo. We are trying to make our farmers understand the extent they need to reach in terms of preparedness for the summer cropping season. We have been looking at watermelon, tomato, and cabbage production during the summer period as well as raising awareness in terms of prepared varieties that can thrive in summer hot conditions,” Agricultural Expo Promoter, Nomatter Dube said.
Apart from farmer empowerment, ZPCS used the platform to showcase its rehabilitation programmes, which include agricultural training for inmates.
“As ZPCS we are imparting life skills to inmates, we have taught them many agricultural practices so that when they go out, they can do their own agricultural activities without supervision,” the Correctional Chief, Casper Ndende said.
With agriculture forming a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s rural economy, initiatives such as this expo are seen as crucial to building food security and supporting government efforts under the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).
