Story by Wellington Makonese
ZIMBABWE is participating at this year’s Belarusian Agro-Industrial Week in Minsk, focusing on showcasing modern agricultural equipment and enhancing mechanisation partnerships.
The engagement comes as the two countries are seeking to bolster their mechanisation partnerships through the launch of Phase Four of the Belarus Mechanisation Programme, which will prioritise smallholder farmers and facilitate the acquisition of small tractors by Zimbabwe.
The Zimbabwean delegation, led by the Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development, Honourable Vangelis Haritatos, is attending the exhibition, touring various stands while holding discussions with Belarusian business representatives.
“As you know, we have completed three phases of mechanisation with Belarus. We are here in Minsk and have had successful engagements with Minsk Tractor Works, the producers of the combine harvesters and tractors currently in use in Zimbabwe. We are now focusing on acquiring smaller units for our smallholder farmers, in line with President Mnangagwa’s vision of leaving no one and no place behind,” Honourable Haritatos said.
Zimbabwe’s envoy to Belarus, Ambassador Ignatius Mudzimba, believes trade opportunities between the two countries are vast.
“Belarus is a ready partner, supportive of our projects. As we gear for phase four, I am glad that they have decided to establish production facilities in Zimbabwe for the combine harvesters and tractors.”
Popularly known as Belagro, the Industrial Week, held since 1990, is one of the largest exhibitions of agro-industrial equipment.
Zimbabwe is seeking to tap into the expertise in Belarus as the country drives towards food self-sufficiency and becomes an export hub for agro-produce.
