Bulawayo Ward 17 youths empowered by Deep Plough Mushroom Project

By Sihlobo Bulala

Young people involved in the Deep Plough Agriculture Co-operative Society mushroom production project say the project has created a meaningful platform for skills development, collaboration, and livelihood opportunities.

Launched in November 2025, the initiative focuses on empowering youths, particularly school leavers, by providing practical agricultural skills and opportunities to participate in enterprise development. Through the project, young people have become actively involved in different stages of mushroom production, from constructing cabins to managing the growing process.

For some participants, the project has also become a space for peer learning and exchanging ideas about their future. Youths say working together has helped them build confidence, develop teamwork, and explore ways of creating sustainable livelihoods within their communities.

One of the participants, Arnold Thebe, says being part of the cooperative has allowed him to interact with other young people while brainstorming ideas that contribute toward a productive future. He adds that staying actively engaged in the project helps him remain focused and avoid negative influences such as drug and substance abuse.

“If i’m here i would be getting ideas on how to advance myself. Sometimes we will be having the pastor helping us and providing guidance on issues such as drug and substance abuse. I am inviting other youths to come join us as well as we create a good future for ourselves,” he said

Another youth, Promise Sibanda, has also been able to apply his carpentry skills by helping build one of the mushroom cabins used in the project. He says the initiative has provided him with a platform to strengthen his practical skills while contributing to a community-driven enterprise.

“As youths under Deep Plough, we see it beneficial for us to be here because we gain knowledge on different things and empowerment.

When i got here i was doing solar installation, then i did capentry helping set up another mushroom cabin. I’m now seeing that i have to do a course on water harvesting seeing as we have a water challenge so it will be good if we have water collectors and get water while waiting for a borehole system,” he said.

Nyasha Dhliwayo, one of the young people says beyond skills development, the project has presented her with an opportunity to learn what other young people are usually upto at a time when many young people struggle to find opportunities after completing school.

“When i come here, i feel refreshed. I come here to relate to reality, to relate to other people and see what people my age, my peers are doing. I’m getting to learn more about how to do business, and the mushroom drying process and that fruits can be dried,” she said.

Beauty Maphosa, one of the members of the cooperative expressed her positivity on the youth’s uptake of the project.

“The coming of youths to this place has gotten them out of situations like drugs because their minds are always thinking about the mushroom project. They’re now listening to their parents as well because their minds are in working hard. We’re also seeing change as they’re now able to do things for themselves and are now able to start small businesses at home because they started here,” she said.

Members of the cooperative are also looking ahead, with plans to expand the project by increasing the number of mushroom cabins and diversifying production. Currently, the group produces oyster mushrooms, which are sold both fresh and dried as part of their strategy to create longer-lasting products. They hope to eventually introduce button mushrooms as they grow the project.

The Chairperson of Deep Plough, Muziwane Ncube says initiatives such as the mushroom project demonstrate the importance of young people identifying and responding to opportunities within agriculture. He emphasised that agropreneurship presents many untapped possibilities, but unlocking them requires collective action, knowledge sharing, and active youth participation.

“One thing that is important that we are advocating for is for young people to see gaps and opportunities that are available in terms of agropreneurship. They’ve got to see those opportunities. There are so many gaps that are available but those gaps they need a collective action, a collective approach in terms of knowledge gathering and also they should be involved.

“There’s an opportunity that is there even in terms of value addition. Dried fruits, dried products, fresh products like mushrooms but all of those projects need commitment. So our advocacy is for us as this generation of youth we should be able to see those gaps and invest in knowledge and research and also be willing to be patient for those projects to come to pass. It can be transforming opportunity that starts small but it can be life-changing,” said Ncube.

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