Orchestra 
DIGITAL WORLD
BRICS+ Media Centre 
MODERN RUSSIAN 
08.07.2618:00 
Zimbabwe advances rural industrialisation through agricultural business units
Village and school-based production projects are supporting food security, employment, and local economic growth
Zimbabwe is continuing to expand its rural industrialisation strategy through the development of village business units, school businesses, and vocational training centres aimed at strengthening food production and creating employment opportunities. The initiative forms part of a broader national programme promoted by Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa to transform rural communities into productive economic centres, reports Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC News), a partner of TV BRICS.
One of the projects demonstrating early results is the Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Youth Service and Vocational Training Centre in Igava Village, Mashonaland East Province. The centre recently began harvesting cabbage cultivated under its horticulture programme after successfully growing 12,000 plants intended for local markets and retail distribution.
Alongside crop cultivation, the centre has expanded into aquaculture, operating four fish ponds stocked with 8,000 fingerlings that are expected to be ready for harvesting within the coming months.
Centre head Thomas Kunaka stated that the facility’s borehole infrastructure supplies water both to the gardens and fish ponds, supporting year-round agricultural activities. Stakeholders involved in the programme note that the model is demonstrating strong potential for rural economic transformation and sustainable community development.
Zimbabwean authorities aim to establish 35,000 village business units nationwide, with schools and vocational institutions encouraged to adopt similar models focused on self-sufficiency, youth empowerment, and long-term food security.
BRICS nations are continuing to expand investment in sustainable agriculture, climate adaptation, and rural development programmes.
According to Brasil 247, a TV BRICS partner, Brazil has been actively expanding agroecology and family farming programmes in recent years as part of its strategy to strengthen food security, promote sustainable rural development, and support environmentally friendly agricultural practices. Through the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Family Agriculture programme "Da Terra à Mesa" (From farm to fork), authorities are encouraging the introduction of agroforestry systems that combine crop cultivation with forest restoration, helping preserve biodiversity, improve soil quality, and mitigate the effects of climate change.
BRICS+ nations and other countries around the world are also advancing complementary initiatives aimed at climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable land use.
Kazakhstan is intensifying efforts to combat land degradation and desertification amid growing climate challenges affecting Central Asia. Authorities are developing soil conservation technologies, regenerative farming practices, and sustainable water management systems to strengthen food security and improve environmental resilience, reports Kazinform, a partner of TV BRICS. The country has also established a unified soil monitoring service and continues updating electronic land maps to track soil conditions across millions of hectares. Particular attention is being paid to the development of carbon farming, which Kazakhstan views as a promising tool for improving soil fertility, increasing agricultural productivity, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Tunisia is expanding efforts to protect agricultural biodiversity and strengthen food security through cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organisation and national research institutions. The country is developing climate-resistant local seed varieties. Recent projects focus on collecting and studying local barley varieties adapted to drought and rising temperatures, supporting sustainable agriculture and long-term food resilience, as reported by Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP), a partner of TV BRICS.
10.07.2616:45 
10.07.2615:00 
12 minutes 33 sec.