Story by Tapiwa Machemedze
Wheat harvesting is in full swing with AFC leasing company availing 56 combine harvesters throughout the country in response to the government’s call to secure the bumper crop.
Efforts to ensure wheat-based food security in the country have moved a gear up with farmers commencing harvesting of the envisaged 600 metric thousand tonnes of wheat.
Chief Nembire is among the farmers that have benefitted from government combine harvesters through AFC leasing company.
“Farming should be handled as business, as you can see I planted wheat, I started going it alone, but the presidential wheat scheme came along. I planted it on 15 April. I was the first person to plant wheat in Mashonaland central province and I harvested at 3.5 tonnes per hectare,” he said.
“We have received machinery to do work, it’s going well because the clouds are already gathering, you know wheat will not fare well if rains fall on it. As black people, we must be self-reliant and feed our nation,” noted a beneficiary.
In addition to the provision of combine harvesters, the firm is providing machinery for summer ploughing.
“This is our first field to harvest in Mashonaland Central. We have harvested 20 hectares in this field. We have deployed more than 50 around the country and we are harvesting around the whole country. We are also there to help you plough and we have started ploughing tobacco fields. We have flexible terms and accept both ZiG and USD payments,” said AFC Leasing Company Regional Manager, Cephas Mhurira.
22 clusters in major wheat growing areas have been set up around the country where farmers can access combine harvesters with a harvesting capacity in excess of 10 hectares per day.
The bulk of the harvesting will be done at the Agricultural & Rural Development Authority (ARDA) joint venture fields and irrigation schemes which play a critical role in driving wheat food security in the country.
