CFI appeals against estate acquisition

Government, Urban and Rural Development was acquiring 1300 hectares from the CFI owned Glenara Estates for residential and farming purposes.
Government intends to acquire 900ha from Glenara Estate’s Bandauch section and 400 from Tsikwi section, which is in Mashonaland West. This has, however, caused an outcry from CFI which said the move will adversely affect its operations. In a letter addressed to Minister Ignatius Chombo, CFI managing director Dr Tapera Mpezeni said that the intended subdivision of the farm would cause a major bio-security breach for the farm.
“This exercise is going to affect the production of Victoria Foods and Agrifoods as business units since they are inter-linked to the farm.
“Maize (4 200) tonnes, wheat (150) tonnes and sugar beans (100) tonnes from this farm go directly to Victoria Foods for processing. By-products from Victoria and soya beans (750) tonnes are used for stock feed manufacturing at Agrifoods,” he lamented.
Speaking at a Pioneer Hi Bred seed field day after a tour of the Glenara Estates, CFI chief executive Mr Stephen Kuipa said the acquisition of Bandauch section which measures 900 hectares was going to negatively affect operations. This section represented the bulk of arable land on the farm.
Mr Kuipa said if implemented the acquisition will leave Glenara Estates with insufficient land for its farming activities. Glenara Estates has 2000ha arable land of which 712ha is under maize, 270ha soya, 33ha seed maize and 50ha sugar bean and 450 beef herd.