Agroecology rescues youth from drug and substance abuse

Rutendo Talent Makichi (25) [Right] from Bindura, Mashonaland Central Province in Zimbabwe says she is working with Farmers Association of Community self-Help Investment Groups (FACHIG) to promote youth participation in agroecology. Photo: PELUM-ZWE

By Rutendo Makichi (25)

Drug and substance abuse has taken over Zimbabwe like a cyclone. Many youths have turned to drugs to escape the realities of poverty and unemployment.

My name is Rutendo Talent Makichi and I am 25 years old. I am from Bindura located in Mashonaland Central Province in Zimbabwe. I work with a community-based organization called Farmers Association of Community self-Help Investment Groups (FACHIG). I work under a programme called “Promoting Sustainable Agriculture through Marketing and Youth involvement”. The programme aims to promote youth participation in agriculture, targeting youths from Zimbabwe and Kenya.

I am working with other young people in my community to curb drug and substance abuse through agroecology. Our objective is to give youths knowledge and skills to make a living through agroecology. We hope that by addressing the root cause poverty and unemployment, we will save many youths from this scourge.

I joined the programme in 2022 and I have been imparting knowledge and skills to young farmers in Mt Darwin and Manhenga districts on areas such as bio-intensive agriculture, water harvesting techniques, soil fertility and compositing, among others.

One of the youths we have trained and rescued from substance abuse is Kudakwashe Bhasera (18) from Mtondwe village in Mt Darwin district. Kudakwashe was hooked to substance abuse. He got involved when his parents could not afford to pay his school fees. He did not have anything to occupy him and he wanted to venture in farming but could not afford to buy the farming inputs.

Kudakwashe now farms on a 2 hactare plot in the Mtondwe irrigation scheme where he is cultivating various crops from traditional seeds. He is also into chili production. He has stopped alcohol and drug abuse and is looking forward to luring other youth to stop substance abuse.

Although the programme is mainly targeted at youths, some young men and women between 35 and 40 are participating in the activities. One couple, John Muchenje (37) and his wife, Chipo Muchenje (34) from Chakoma village, ward 8, Mt Darwin district have become an inspiration to the community because of the success they have realised using vemi-compost.

This movement has not only changed the lives of youth in Mashonaland Central but it also changed my life because I am benefitting from the inspiring and motivating work by people of my age and I am hoping to continue passing this information from generation to generation.