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Agriculture Reporter
GOVERNMENT has reiterated calls for young farmers currently being allocated land to consider getting into joint venture arrangements with partners that have resources that will allow them to fully utilise land for the good of production.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister recently told attendees of a youth working group virtual meeting that joint ventures would enable them to effectively participate in agricultural production.
“Joint ventures are important platforms for harnessing different skills for a successful agricultural business,” said Dr Masuka.
Joint venture facilities are practical solutions that the Government is exploring to enhance partnerships that guarantee productivity.
“We are transforming the agriculture industry into becoming more business oriented through such strategic partnerships,” further observed Dr Masuka.
The thrust of the joint venture framework is to match with the Government’s empowerment drive by linking land owners that have no access to finance with working capital and promoting employment creation.
“We encourage farmers to work with the Government, as we have a whole framework on the investment modalities such as profit sharing and every activity that happens on the farm,” said Dr Masuka.
As the Government addresses the need to transform the agriculture sector to be more business driven, the involvement of young farmers with private sector creates an environment that accelerates the rate of adoption of business practices in farming.
“These arrangements are critical in the creation of partnerships for productivity that come with technical management and access to capital,” said Dr Masuka highlighting how registration with the Ministry would enhance the Government’s ability to regulate the joint ventures.
The development comes at a time the Government is giving youths farming land under the Presidential 10-hectare scheme.
All joint ventures should therefore be registered under the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development.
“All land belongs to the Government therefore its leasing should be done with the Government acting as the middlemen and authority,” he said Dr Masuka.
The Minister stressed that it was important to acknowledge the importance of joint ventures in developing new farmers.
“The thrust of the legal joint venture framework is aimed at safeguarding state land with its rightful beneficiaries while ensuring that the area is being worked on effectively,” he said.
Joint ventures are a key component of the Government’s rural development 8, 0 strategy.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) secretary general Mr Paul Zakariya has also added his voice on the need to promote joint venture arrangements for youthful farmers.
“These joint ventures provide a platform for the transfer and harnessing of skills with a renewed focus on the economy and the Government’s push to promote rural industrialisation,” he said.
Online Reporter