Zvamaida Murwira-Senior Reporter
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has challenged Government to ensure the national mechanisation programme becomes accessible to every farmer across the agricultural spectrum, declaring that farm machinery must no longer be a privilege reserved for wealthy farmers.
Speaking at the launch of the Expanded Farmer Mechanisation Facility in Harare yesterday, the President said the scheme sought to bridge the gap between communal smallholders and commercial farmers by transitioning rural agriculture from ox-drawn methods to modern, technology-driven production.
“Of the one million hectares under the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme this year, animal-drawn implements contributed 19,5 percent of land tilled,” he said.
“These limitations affect timeliness and constrain the area that farmers can cultivate, the intensity of land utilisation and the efficiency with which agricultural resources are converted into production.
“Against this backdrop, Zimbabwe must, therefore, continue to move away from predominantly manual, labour-intensive agricultural production towards modern, productive, commercially oriented and technologically enabled farming systems.”
Launched at the start of the 2026-2027 summer cropping season, the facility—which features 25-horsepower tractors with matching implements, two-wheel tractors, direct seeders, trailers, multi-crop threshers, and tool bars—is supported by the Mechanisation Development Alliance Framework to drive food security, climate resilience, rural industrialisation, and value addition.
Some of the farming equipment, including tractors and reapers, that were commissioned by President Mnangagwa at the official launch of the Expanded Mechanisation Facility in Hatcliffe, Harare, yesterday. — Pictures: Believe Nyakudjara.
“Our objective is to ensure that mechanisation is no longer a privilege for farmers with substantial financial resources. Under my administration, mechanisation and support will remain an accessible productive instrument for Zimbabwean farmers across the broad agricultural spectrum,” President Mnangagwa said.
“We are determined to expand access to affordable, appropriate and reliable machinery, enabling our farmers to increase production, improve yields, reduce production costs and strengthen household incomes.”
Since 2017, investments under the Belarus Mechanisation Facilities, John Deere, Bain New Holland, Zoomlion, and local initiatives have expanded Zimbabwe’s tractor fleet from 6 300 to 18 740, while combine harvesters grew by 61 percent from 302 to 486.
“Consequently, our national tractor fleet has grown from 6 300 to 18 740. The number of combine harvesters has also increased from 302 in 2017 to the current 486, resulting in a 61 percent increase. The fraternal win-win bilateral relations between Zimbabwe and Belarus have contributed a whopping total of 3 051 tractors and 150 combine harvesters,” the President said.
“Our new thrust is to explore as well as harness opportunities for local manufacture and assembly of mechanisation equipment and machinery.”
He urged tertiary institutions and industry players to drive innovation and reverse engineering, noting that mechanisation helped push 2026 wheat output to a record 670 000 tonnes.
“It is pleasing that the results of our investments in mechanisation are evident in wheat production, now at a historical record of 670 000 tonnes for the 2026 season,” he said. “Going forward, this production trend must also be witnessed across all cropping activities and agriculture sub-sectors. Our country’s citizens in the diaspora are also invited to participate in the agriculture and agro-processing value chains.”
Equipment is being distributed through structured financing involving eight institutions: CBZ Bank, AFC Land Bank, Women’s Empowerment Bank, POSB, ZB Bank, BancABC, Youth Empower Bank, and SMEDCO.
“I commend the financial institutions for their role in broadening the country’s agricultural machinery supply base and improving the capacity of farmers to undertake critical farming operations. Under the Second Republic, farming has indeed become a business from village to corporate level, translating into a higher quality of life for our people,” President Mnangagwa said.
Aligned with Vision 2030, the scheme will also benefit Village Business Units across all provinces, including those run by youths and war veterans, provided they maintain transparent book-keeping, sound management, and strict equipment maintenance.
“I call upon participating financial institutions, manufacturers and equipment suppliers to play their part towards ensuring that the facility operates transparently and efficiently,” he said.
With an El Niño weather pattern projected for the 2026-2027 summer season, President Mnangagwa urged farmers to remain prepared.
“Notwithstanding this early warning, let us remain vigilant, focused and united,” the President said.
Cabinet Ministers, legislators, bankers, and farmers attended the launch.
