Schools in Gutu South are increasingly embracing income-generating agricultural projects under a constituency-led piggery programme spearheaded by Pupurai Togarepi, with several institutions now producing breeding stock and supplying other schools as the initiative expands across the constituency.
The programme, which has so far benefited 10 schools, has reached a key milestone, with some participating institutions now attaining breeding capacity and producing enough piglets to support newly enrolled schools.
To accelerate expansion, Togarepi has been purchasing pigs from successful school units and redistributing them to other schools and priority community projects, establishing a self-sustaining model in which beneficiaries support one another within the system.
In an interview, Togarepi said the initiative was designed to empower schools while promoting sustainable livelihoods within surrounding communities.
“Our objective is to turn schools into productive centres that not only support learning but also contribute meaningfully to local economic development. We want learners to acquire practical skills that they can use beyond the classroom,” he said.
The piggery programme builds on earlier agricultural interventions led by the legislator, including the distribution of 50 broiler chicks and feed to schools across the constituency. Several schools have since expanded their poultry projects, with some doubling their stock through effective management and reinvestment.
School authorities say the success of the initiative is largely due to the commitment of teachers and staff who supervise the projects while equipping learners with practical agricultural and entrepreneurial skills.
Chagwiza Primary School headmaster, Tobaiwa Musendekwa, said the projects show strong potential but require increased community participation to ensure long-term sustainability.
“For projects of this magnitude to remain sustainable, there is a need to combine the expertise available within schools with active community participation, particularly in providing supplementary feed and other inputs,” he said.
He added that learners are benefiting from hands-on training in livestock management, record-keeping and entrepreneurship, complementing classroom learning.
The projects are aligned with the Government’s Vision 2030 agenda, which promotes community empowerment through productive, income-generating initiatives.
Togarepi said schools should evolve beyond academic centres into hubs of innovation and production capable of generating income while equipping learners with life skills.
He added that the success of the initial beneficiary schools had created a self-reinforcing cycle of growth, with schools now producing piglets for redistribution to others.
As more institutions reach breeding capacity and begin supporting new entrants, the Gutu South model is emerging as a practical example of how education, agriculture and community development can be integrated to drive rural transformation and improve livelihoods.
