Online Reporter
Daniel Chigunwe
Herald Correspondent
SMALLHOLDER Tobacco farmers in Centenary, Mashonaland Central Province, have been urged to embrace beneficiation schemes being availed by stakeholders in the golden leaf industry for enhanced productivity and land ownership.
To boost productivity in the tobacco industry, the Zimbabwe Tobacco Growers Association (ZTGA) last week facilitated a stakeholders forum attended by the Tobacco Industry Marketing Board (TIMB), Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) bank, Kutsaga and various ministries in Centenary, Mashonaland Central Province where they highlighted various programmes targeted at empowering smallholder farmers.
The forum explored multiple programmes that have been launched by Government as well as sharing financial knowledge which smallholder farmers across the country are expected to harness for empowered agriculture activities.
The Second Republic under President Mnangagwa is ensuring the full empowerment of land ownership and rights among beneficiaries of the land reform program through the implementation of the Land Tenure System.
Mashonaland Central province happens to be the first beneficiary of this noble initiative after President Mnangagwa issued title deeds to 1000 farmers during the launch of the programme at Craignegower Farm in August emphasizing the policy potential to boost agricultural productivity and sustainability.
The new system also aims to enhance agricultural land ownership rights, attract investment and promote economic growth with
“We have taken the initiative to ensure that as farmers, no one and no place should be left behind in benefiting from the programmes that are being enrolled by President Mnangagwa to empower the growing of the golden leaf, enhancing productivity and profitability as we seek to achieve an upper middle income society for all by 2030,” said Mr George Seremwe, ZTGA president.
“As stakeholders in the tobacco farming industry we are there to further the interests of Government and to complement transformative efforts towards commercialising the growing of tobacco among smallholder farmers who usually lag behind due to information gaps.”
The association in partnership with AFC bank also launched a card beneficiation scheme during the event before making a clarion call for farmers to be organised and united, “our mandate includes providing the ease of doing business for small holder farmers as well as empowering you in the whole value chain process of the tobacco industry.
“Hence this beneficiation which we have enrolled in partnership with AFC will make sure there is facilitation for smallholder farmers to access be it inputs, fuel, equipment and various items at a discount as we partner stakeholders in this whole value chain production of tobacco which will provide the ease of doing business and boost the cash crop farming sector,” said Seremwe.
The AFC bank highlighted various programmes that have been availed by government to ensure that smallholder farmers are not left out in the empowerment process.
Addressing farmers at the event, AFC senior business manager Mr Nhimurai Gilbert said, “we are partnering ZTGA to ensure that tobacco growing in the country is successful through provision of financial resources in the form of capital loans for farmers to purchase inputs, equipment.
“This is meant to increase productivity, as AFC we are participating in implementing the government programmes where farmers are being granted permanent ownership of the land through the Land Tenure Implementation in which we are issuing mortgage loans.”
Meanwhile, smallholder farmers have also highlighted the need for information, support and representation for farmers in marginal areas, “without support from organisations like ZTGA farmers will not realise viability of agriculture as a business, we need to make profit and increase production,” said Muzarabani Farmers Association chairperson Mr Philip Chimukute.
