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Oliver Kazunga Senior Business Reporter
THE government will not alter the terms of distributing farming equipment from the $38.6 million sourced from Brazil with Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Joseph Made insisting the beneficiaries will not receive the machinery for free. Zimbabwe received the first consignment of the equipment last month under the Brazilian More Food for Africa Programme.
The country will benefit from three tranches coming through a $98 million loan facility.
The first consignment comprises tractors, fertilizer spreaders and irrigation kits meant to benefit at least 22,000 households from communal and A1 schemes.
Responding to questions from Parliamentarians, Minister Made said there was no change in the broader policy of mechanisation and irrigation development.
“The Brazilian project is a very specific project. It has its own specificities in terms of how the equipment will be distributed.
“So, no change in policy in terms of mechanisation, maybe what I might just add is the principle that no equipment will be distributed free of charge,” said the minister.
The Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union chief economist Prince Kuipa welcomed the principle saying it was not proper for farmers to depend on handouts.
“We’re farmers and we don’t like a situation where our members depend on handouts. What’s pleasing to note is that the farmers will get the equipment at zero deposit and start repaying when they harvest,” he said. “It’s also encouraging to note that the equipment will attract a two percent interest per annum, which in our view is reasonable and affordable to the farmers.”
The agriculture sector is set to benefit immensely from the scheme with higher expectations for improved yields.
Lack of funding remains a major barrier to the success of the historic land reform programme with farmers only banking their hopes on the government, which has pressure in terms of allocating the small cake.
Meanwhile, Minister Made told the august House that the government was already dealing with programmes that relate to any areas with food shortages.
“We’re already on the ground relating to that. There’re districts that are really in dire need and we’re handling that in two ways. There’s grain that’s available for the normal purchase that takes place.
“Then, there’s the grain that’s distributed through the Ministry of Labour and Social Services in what is looked after in terms of the really depressed families that can’t afford to buy . . . So I want to assure you that we’re already seized with that matter.”
Online Reporter