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Chegutu, Zimbabwe - "Using beekeeping as an alternative source of income for rural people can reduce poverty among youth and increase food production, while reducing pressures on natural resources," said Philip Tafirei Mushayi, Principal of the Chibero Agricultural College in the Chegutu district of Zimbabwe. Mr. Mushayi was speaking at a beekeeping training workshop, hosted by the Chibero College and organized by the FAO Green Jobs for Rural Youth Employment (GJ4RYE) project.

The project, funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), aims at enhancing local sustainable agrifood systems and supporting rural economies through capacity building and green employment generation for rural disadvantaged youth in Sierra Leone, Timor Leste, and Zimbabwe.

In Zimbabwe, 300 rural youth (50% male and 50% female) were initially selected to participate in the project in the districts of Marondera, Chegutu, Kariba, Mazowe, Kwekwe and Chimanimani. Selected youths are either engaged under the Green Entrepreneurship Track (GET), where they receive grants for green business start-ups, or under the Wage Employment Programme (WEP), which consists of a wage employment opportunity for two years and possible retain by the FAO partners beyond the project.

The WEPs are being implemented in pre-identified sites together with local partners and encompass a number of different green value chains, including apiculture, sustainable timber harvesting and processing, tree nursery, organic horticulture, post-harvesting fish processing, and organic vermicompost production, to mention some. Sector-specific training represents an essential component of the GJ4RYE project and guarantees the sustainability of the green jobs initiative in the long term.

"The project is addressing the youth employment challenge in the country by providing decent work for youth, sustainable enterprise development, enhanced agriculture productivity and skills development," said Clophas Ncube, National Project Coordinator. "This will help beneficiaries start their green businesses, generate income, achieve food security and enhance climate resilience."

During the training on beekeeping, provided by officers from Apimondia (International Federation of Beekeepers’ Associations) at the Chibero College, 20 youth were trained on various beehive construction components, honey production, packaging/honey processing, marketing and business management. At the end of the training, the young participants built 319 beehives and received beekeeping equipment to start and run their own profitable beekeeping business.

Mr. Mushayi applauded the students for their commitment in setting up agribusiness activities that can benefit the entire community by generating employment opportunities for their fellow youth. He also encouraged them to share their knowledge with other unemployed youth based in the rural areas.

"Additional people will have employment by working with them, and many indirect jobs will be created in the community," added Clophas Ncube. "These youth will no longer be counted among the unemployed Zimbabweans and millions of people who live below the country's poverty line."

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