IN yet another testimony of the success of President
Mnangagwa’s re-engagement efforts, the country’s critical agricultural sector
yesterday received a shot in the arm that will boost output and reduce poverty
after the United States headquartered John Deere company rolled out a US$51
million farm mechanisation facility that will be spread across provinces.
John Deere is one of the biggest suppliers of farm
implements in the world.
The facility by John Deere comes at a time when the Second
Republic under President Mnangagwa, has been pursuing international engagement
and re-engagement with all world nations in order to attract foreign direct
investment.
It also comes as the Government has made agriculture
transformation and the attainment of food self-sufficiency one of its key
priorities.
Speaking at the launch of the mechanisation facility, the
President said the programme that would be managed by local banks would go a
long way in assisting farmers with the much-needed mechanisation solutions.
He said although he was initially sceptical, after a top
official from John Deere visited him in 2018, the commencement of the project
was gratifying evidence that Zimbabwe can do business with anyone.
“I feel greatly honoured to officiate at this important
occasion which marks the launch of the John Deere Mechanisation Facility. By
way of background, on November 7, 2018, I was pleased to receive the president
of John Deere Agriculture Worldwide Mr Mark von Pentz, who paid me a courtesy
call at my Munhumutapa Offices.
“It was during that occasion that he informed me about his
company’s interest in partnering Zimbabwe in our mechanisation programme. I was
sceptical at the time because they are based in America. I think you can
appreciate the reason why, but I am extremely pleased that today we stand here
two years down the line with evidence of a private sector from America
cooperating with us in our endeavour to modernise our economy. For that, we
need to send a message of gratitude to President Trump and his administration.
I want to commend the team from both my Government and the John Deere
management who helped in the consummation of this mechanisation facility.
Agriculture plays a central role in Zimbabwe’s economy
through contributing 20 percent to the country’s GDP, 33 percent of formal
employment, 65 percent of raw materials required in agro-industries, and it
accounts for 70 percent of rural livelihood, the President said.
“As such, agriculture is a pathway out of poverty and a
precondition for economic growth and prosperity of our country,” he said.
With agriculture playing such a vital role in Zimbabwe,
it’s transformation, through mechanisation and modernisation is of paramount
importance in order to ensure food self-sufficiency.
“Cognisant of the importance of the sector, my Government
has made agriculture transformation and attainment of food security one of its
key priorities. Hence, the launch of this facility is timely and part of the
journey we embarked towards the realisation of these objectives. It further
attests to the commitment by Government to work with various partners and
investors, guided by the Zimbabwe is Open for Business mantra, to grow and
prosper our economy so that our people enjoy better quality of life. The coming
in of John Deere Agriculture Worldwide into the agriculture value chain also
bears testimony to the success of our engagement and re-engagement policy,”
said the President.
The John Deere facility through a local agent, Afgri
Zimbabwe, will unlock 1 300 tractors, 80 combined harvesters, 600 planters, 200
disc harrows, 100 boom sprayers and 100 trailers.
The facility will be utilised mainly by the 5 000 farmers
under the National Agriculture Recovery Plan, while the selection of
beneficiaries will be based on creditworthiness of the farmers as assessed by
CBZ and Stanbic Bank.
On the other end, Agribank will establish a special
equipment leasing vehicle for the purposes of mechanisation service provision,
especially for combine harvesters.
President Mnangagwa challenged the public, private
institutions and farmers in the agriculture sector to work together to ensure
coordinated production, marketing and financing of crucial sectors.
The coming in of private players such as John Deere will
ensure among other things that Zimbabwe optimises agricultural production which
is presently dominated by draught animal power instead of mechanisation.
Out of the 4.31 million arable hectares, one million
hectares is under draught animal power, with only half a million hectares under
tractor power. The balance of 2.8 million hectares requires farm mechanisation.
Vice Presidents Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi both
described the John Deere Agricultural Facility as a step in the right direction
in ensuring that Zimbabwe is food sufficient.
On his part Minister Shiri said the agriculture sector had
an essential and critical role as a vital pathway and enabler towards the
attainment of Vision 2030 which aims to transform Zimbabwe into a middle income
economy in 10 years’ time.
John Deere local representative, Mr Graham Smith said the
company would help in training farmers in the use and maintenance of the
equipment. Herald
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