Sundaymail Editor
Theseus Shambare
The Government is set to seal a US$170 million deal to buy close to 4 000 high-tech tractors and combine harvesters at concessional rates under the third phase of the Belarus Farm Mechanisation Facility.
Last week, Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Piotr Parkhomchik, led a high-level delegation on a week-long tour of duty in the country to finalise the deal, which was secured by President Mnangagwa during his State visit to Minsk in 2018. Zimbabwe has so far procured 1 337 tractors and combine harvesters — the bulk of which have since been delivered — through the facility. The tractors were manufactured by the Belarusian company MTZ.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail, chief director for Agricultural Engineering, Mechanisation and Soil Conservation in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Engineer Edwin Zimunga, said Government is prioritising the modernisation of agriculture.
“We are working round the clock to make sure that we modernise and mechanise our agriculture for improved production with less human labour,” he said.
“The current deal, which we are working on, will see us receive at least 3 750 tractors and 60 more combine harvesters from our Belarusian friends.”
Zimbabwe currently has a fleet of 10 800 tractors and 189 combine harvesters, which is a marked improvement from 7 000 tractors in 2019.
“With the coming on board of this US$169,9 million deal and other facilities, we want to push our tractor fleet to about 15 000 by the year 2025. This is a concessional deal in which governments capacitate each other.
“In this case, with the experience Belarus has, they are sharing that knowledge with us so that we improve our agriculture sector.”
He said combine-harvesting capacity had improved by more than 100 000 hectares during this year’s ongoing winter harvesting season.
“Farmers have been blaming the subdued agricultural performance on lack of machinery, but this is now a thing of the past,” added Eng Zimunga.
President Mnangagwa engaged his Belarusian counterpart, President Alexander Lukashenko, in 2018 to support the farm mechanisation programme through the supply of farm equipment and training of local farmers in cultivation, seeding, irrigation and crop harvesting. The two leaders discussed co-operation in the mining and transport sectors.
President Lukashenko is scheduled to be in Zimbabwe in December on an official visit that is expected to further enhance economic co-operation between the two countries.
Zimbabwe Farmers Union executive director, Mr Paul Zakariya, said mechanisation will increase production and productivity on farms.
“Mechanisation is key in doubling our agriculture production, and having a Government that spearheads such initiatives is a plus for us, farmers,” he said.
“However, we urge the Government that when we acquire these tractors, we also need implements that blend well with our drive to climate-proof our agriculture.
“Mechanised large-scale conservation agriculture promotes precision farming, which is productive and cheaper, while disturbing the soil less.”
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union president, Dr Shadreck Makombe, said the future of agriculture lies in mechanisation.
“Having more tractors and combine harvesters means we can secure national food self-sufficiency,” he said.
“Mechanical implements reduce produce losses through efficiency, and lessen labour requirements and time consumed in operations.
“We welcome this development and hope that it will be secured.”
Mazowe’s Nyamavanga Farmers Association chairperson, Mr Silas Mubhemi, also welcomed the deal.
“We are excited about these facilities by the Government.
“We have benefitted from the AFC leasing facility, and next week (this week), a combine harvester will be on our farm for the winter wheat harvest.
“We are also looking forward to phase three since we are listed to benefit from the tractors.”
Trade between Harare and Minsk increased by 15-fold over the past four years.
Last year, Zimbabwe exported tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes valued at over US$2,5 million to Belarus.
Conversely, imports from Belarus – which included goods such as machinery, mechanical appliances, fertilisers and rubber – stood at US$23,4 million.
Speaking after meeting the President at State House last week, Mr Parkhomchik said: “In terms of agriculture, we are going into the third phase. The first phase was finalised in 2020, when we supplied 850 different kinds of equipment, which included tractors, combine harvesters and other farming implements.
“This year, we are finalising the second phase. As a result, we will supply about 1 500 different kinds of agriculture equipment.
“We have reached an agreement with the Minister of Agriculture (Dr Anxious Masuku) to continue this cooperation and increase it. We are planning to make it twice more than the second phase.”
Belarus, he said, will also supply Zimbabwe with fire tenders to improve the country’s capacity to fight fires.
In addition to eyeing opportunities in mining, the Eurasian country is set to establish a bus assembly plant in Zimbabwe.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter