2 701 farming joint ventures get the nod

Precious Manomano

Herald Reporter.

MORE people continue to join the agriculture sector following the Government’s approval of 2 701 land joint ventures (JV) on 234 432 hectares, as efforts to improve productivity and boost rural industrialisation intensify.

Government has been encouraging people in need of land to enter into JV arrangements with those that have land but fully not using it.

Currently there is no land to accommodate those on the waiting list with allocations only happening on abandoned, underutilised or idle farms.

However, the Government has to approve all JVs as a precaution to reduce possible disputes.

Statistics indicate that 10 000 diasporans and 270 000 locals are on the waiting land list.

Recently, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development professor Obert Jiri said joint ventures were critical, as they provided a platform for the transfer and harnessing of skills to promote rural industrialisation.

“These joint venture facilities are practical solutions that we are exploring to enhance partnerships in the farming business to guarantee productivity. Not everyone will get land because there is a huge number that is on the waiting list. So far no land is available so we urge land seekers to engage in joint ventures and partnerships,” he said.

Strategic joint venture arrangements will enable them to fully utilise land and boost productivity.

Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Dr Anxious Masuka said the Government had a corporate model of farming adding that those who want to farm can participate through that model.

Indications are that many farms that had been lying dormant for long periods have positively turned active amid revelations that most joint venture partners are performing above expectation

Under a refined Statutory Instrument (SI) 38 of 2021, all areas with irrigation infrastructure will be gazetted for purposes of JVs for enhanced production.

Farmers are also being urged to form joint ventures with resourceful partners to optimise land use and enhance productivity.

As the agriculture landscape evolves, these collaborative partnerships are emerging as a beacon of hope, allowing both landowners and investors to flourish together.

Dr Anxious Masuka, highlighted the challenges many landowners, particularly those who own land but lack the necessary resources to cultivate it effectively, face.

He called for a system where inclusivity and collaboration are paramount, ensuring that all Zimbabweans can partake in the benefits of the agriculture sector.

Dr Masuka said many Zimbabweans, particularly those who own land but lack the necessary resources, were facing serious low productivity challenges.

“Not all people who have land possess are adequately resourced. It is essential that we create an environment where those with land and those with capital can come together to ensure that all Zimbabweans benefit from our rich agricultural heritage,” he said.

Launched in 2020, the joint venture initiative connects landowners without resources to investors eager to contribute to agriculture, fostering a spirit of cooperation rather than competition.

The programme has garnered widespread support, reshaping the approach to land utilisation in Zimbabwe.

Dr Masuka acknowledged the importance of legal frameworks saying he had worked with a dedicated team of eight lawyers to establish joint venture agreements that protect the rights of both parties involved.

He encouraged landowners to reach out to Agritex offices for assistance in finding suitable partners and ensure that those with the right skills and resources can maximise agricultural productivity.