Story by Tendai Munengwa
THE Zimbabwe-Belarus farm mechanisation programme has been described as the right tonic for the country’s sustainable food security and economic revolution.
The launch of the Second Phase of the mechanisation programme has brought the much-needed impetus to consolidate efforts by the Second Republic to empower farmers to fully utilise their pieces of land.
“This is historic, our agriculture has been transformed and within record time we have received a huge consignment of tractors and implements, which is a booster to our food security efforts.
“Government is well-oiled to support all these well-crafted deals like this one. We are happy and can assure you that resources to ensure the success of this programme and others are available,” said the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa.
The Agriculture Finance Bank, which is the chief distributor of the tractors and other equipment, assured the nation that the tractors have come at an opportune time to fulfil President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s vision of national food security.
“We received the first batch during the first launch and we got more tractors on this second phase. This is great news to farmers and as the distributors, we want to make sure all farmers get the tractors at affordable rates,” said the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Mr George Guvamatanga.
The first batch of equipment from Belarus has impacted positively on the country’s agriculture as farmers who used to battle for tillage got tractors and implements on time.
The availability of combined harvesters under the same programme has played a pivotal role which has seen the country attain wheat self-sufficiency.
