Story by Tendai Munengwa
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has provided new tractors and combine harvesters to young farmers across Zimbabwe, covering half of the total cost of the machinery as part of efforts to enhance agricultural productivity and food security.
On Wednesday, youths from across the country gathered at the Agriculture Mechanisation and Engineering Workshop in Harare to receive the farming equipment, which was secured under the Zimbabwe-Belarus Mechanisation Programme.
The initiative is aimed at empowering young farmers to play a key role in national food production.
The Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Masuka, handed over 72 tractors and two combine harvesters to youth representatives.
“The President is leading by example by virtue that he is a farmer, he wants to see youths also taking over agriculture productivity, so he has availed 72 tractors and two combine harvesters in his quest to drive Vision 2030, rural development and industrialisation. These tractors are not charitable, the President wants to see the youths contributing to transformative agenda,” Dr Masuka said.
President Mnangagwa has chipped in to pay the deposit, giving the green light for the release of the tractors to the youths.
“I want to urge all youths to put these tractors to good use and for productive purposes. These tractors will be taken to all districts as our President has already paid 50 percent and the youth will pay the other half,” the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Honourable Tino Machakaire stated.
The beneficiaries assured the government that they will fully utilise the equipment to produce adequate food and contribute to Vision 2030.
“The President keeps empowering us. Last week he unveiled a Youth Empowerment Fund to the tune of US$7 million. This time around, he paid a deposit for us to receive the tractors and combine harvesters. We will not let him down,” ZANU PF Midlands Provincial Youth Chairperson, Cde Ernest Dzoro said.
“As Harare youths, we have been given land and tractors so this is going to create jobs and food at the same time,” ZANU PF Harare Provincial Youth Chairperson, Cde Emmanuel Mahachi added.
President Mnangagwa also launched the Presidential Youth Empowerment Fund last month to ensure that they have access to a revolving fund for various income-generating projects.
The handover of the farming machinery to the youths comes at an opportune time when the country is preparing for winter wheat cropping.
