Online Reporter
Lonster Mutata
Herald Correspondent
THE transformation unfolding across Zimbabwe’s agricultural landscape is no accident.
It is the result of deliberate Government policy, strategic investment and a firm commitment to modernising agriculture.
Through the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development, a wide range of mechanisation facilities has been rolled out to benefit smallholder farmers, commercial producers and beneficiaries of the Land Reform Programme.
The objective is to enhance production and productivity, strengthen food security and food sovereignty, and position agriculture as a key driver of economic growth.
And the results are increasingly evident across the country’s fields, where tractors are replacing manual labour, combine harvesters are reducing post-harvest losses, and mechanised feed production is driving growth in the livestock sector.
The impact is reflected in national statistics. Zimbabwe has recorded remarkable growth across almost every major agricultural subsector. Wheat production has risen from below national requirements to record-breaking harvests that have made the country self-sufficient.
Maize production has improved significantly under both commercial farming and the Presidential Inputs Programme, while tobacco output continues to break export earnings records.
Horticulture is expanding, the national dairy herd is producing more milk than at any point in recent history, and livestock productivity is increasing through improved mechanised feed production. Agriculture, once vulnerable to recurring production deficits, has become one of the fastest-growing sectors of the economy, contributing substantially to Gross Domestic Product while reinforcing Zimbabwe’s journey towards Vision 2030.
Behind these impressive national figures are thousands of individual success stories, each demonstrating the transformative power of mechanisation.
One such story belongs to 29-year-old Arcturus farmer Mr Pardon Chibamu, owner of Ruargo Farm in Goromonzi District, Mashonaland East Province.
His journey is not merely one of personal success, but a compelling illustration of how Government’s mechanisation programme is changing lives, expanding production and reshaping rural economies.
Standing beside a modern tractor and combine harvester that have become the backbone of his farming enterprise, Mr Chibamu reflects on how dramatically his fortunes have changed.
“I deeply thank His Excellency President Cde Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa for giving us, as the Youth League, an opportunity through EmpowerBank to access facilities that enabled me to procure this tractor and combine harvester,” he said.
“Before acquiring this equipment, we had the ambition to cultivate larger areas, but we were constrained by the lack of mechanisation. We could only manage about 10 hectares.
“Today, because of these machines, we are cultivating between 120 and 200 hectares. This is youth empowerment in action. We thank the Second Republic for creating these opportunities. We are no longer just producing for ourselves.”
He said farmers and communities around Goromonzi North are also benefiting from the services provided by the equipment, contributing significantly to food security in the district and across the country.
Mr Chibamu’s testimony mirrors the broader national experience, where access to modern agricultural machinery is allowing farmers to maximise land use, improve efficiency and increase productivity.
The transformation at Ruargo Farm extends well beyond crop production.
Farm manager Mr Loyd Makava says mechanisation has revolutionised virtually every aspect of the farming operation.
“We cultivate maize, potatoes, soyabeans, cabbages and several horticultural crops. Before receiving Government-assisted mechanisation equipment, harvesting was one of our biggest challenges,” he said.
“Today, the combine harvester has completely changed the situation. It is performing exceptionally well and allows us to harvest efficiently and on time.
“The tractor has equally transformed our tillage operations. We are cultivating much larger areas than before, but its importance goes beyond cropping. We now use it to grind maize stalks and crop residues into livestock feed. That means mechanisation is supporting both crop production and livestock production.”
Mr Makava said their poultry, cattle and piggery enterprises are all benefiting from improved feed availability.
Today, Ruargo Farm presents an impressive picture of agricultural diversification. More than 50 hectares are under maize, over 15 000 cabbage heads are almost ready for the market, potatoes occupy approximately 10 hectares, while the livestock section comprises more than 25 000 broiler chickens, over 300 cattle and a growing piggery enterprise.
The difference compared to previous years is striking.
“Last year at this time, we would still have been struggling to harvest because we did not have the necessary equipment,” Mr Makava.
“Now harvesting is completed on time, allowing us to prepare early for the next production cycle. Our next target is winter wheat production.
“With the machinery now at our disposal, we are confident we can cultivate up to 200 hectares once we secure additional land.”
Stories such as Ruargo Farm’s are becoming increasingly common as access to mechanisation financing expands across the country.
According to the Director of Agricultural Engineering, Mechanisation and Farm Infrastructure Development in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development, Engineer Nhlanhla Magama, mechanisation has become one of the principal drivers behind Zimbabwe’s recent agricultural success.
“As Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development, we are implementing a number of mechanisation facilities designed to improve farmers’ access to modern agricultural machinery that enhances production and productivity,” he said.
“Currently, we are running more than five mechanisation facilities through seven participating financial institutions, namely CBZ Agro Yield, AFC Land Bank, Women’s Bank, EmpowerBank, ZB Bank, POSB and SMEDCO.”
Eng Magama said these interventions have transformed Zimbabwe’s mechanisation landscape.
“Our national tractor population has increased from around 8 000 in 2020 to more than 17 500 today.
“This has significantly expanded the area under cultivation, improved the timeliness of farming operations and increased productivity.
“The country has consequently achieved food security while also producing sufficient feed for livestock through improved mechanised fodder production,” said Eng Magama.
Harvesting capacity has also expanded dramatically.
“The number of combine harvesters has increased from approximately 150 in 2020 to more than 315. This has enabled farmers to harvest on time, allowing a seamless transition between summer and winter cropping seasons.
“Previously, harvesting delays often resulted in late planting, affecting yields. Those bottlenecks have now been significantly reduced.”
Beyond increasing production, the mechanisation programme is making modern farming more accessible than ever before.
“We encourage farmers to fully utilise these facilities because profitability starts with increased production, and increased production depends on timely farming operations. Government has created an enabling environment where farmers only require a 15 percent deposit to acquire equipment, with no collateral required. We urge all eligible farmers to visit participating financial institutions and take advantage of these opportunities,” said Eng Magama.
The remarkable transformation taking place at Ruargo Farm reflects a broader national story unfolding across Zimbabwe. Every tractor delivered, every combine harvester deployed and every farmer empowered represents another step towards a more productive, resilient and commercially competitive agricultural sector.
Mechanisation has become more than an investment in machinery; it is an investment in national food security, rural industrialisation, youth empowerment and economic growth. As Zimbabwe’s fields continue producing larger harvests and farmers embrace modern technology, the country’s agricultural renaissance is increasingly being powered not by chance, but by innovation, investment and deliberate Government policy.
