Online Reporter
Theseus Mauruki Shambare
GOVERNMENT has called for greater private-sector participation in agricultural mechanisation, urging the use of technology and commercial financing to boost productivity and turn farming into a viable business.
The private sector is expected to drive the uptake of machinery and related technologies as Zimbabwe builds on its bilateral mechanisation partnership with Belarus to modernise agriculture and improve productivity.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri said the Government’s role was to facilitate interaction among farmers, technology developers and machinery manufacturers to accelerate agricultural transformation.
He was speaking on the sidelines of the 116th Zimbabwe Agricultural Show, which is running under the theme “Powering Growth: Where Agriculture, Technology and Commerce Converge”.
Prof Jiri said technologies being showcased at the annual agricultural showcase should ultimately reach farmers and improve production at field level.
“We want an interface, of course, between these and the farmers themselves. The role of the Government is to ensure that happens,” he said.
“Beyond this, we will obviously encourage private sector, farmer, manufacturer interactions to ensure that transformation is led by the private sector, who develop these technologies.
“So, it is important that the private sector leads in agricultural development and transformation, and that role is for the Government to facilitate that interface,” he said.
Zimbabwe has continued to benefit from its agricultural mechanisation cooperation with Belarus, with machinery being supplied to farmers as part of efforts to modernise production.
Bison Agro technician Mr Tatenda Khosa said the company had tractors positioned at various institutions, including Agriculture Finance Corporation, Agricultural and Rural Development Authority, Rural Development Authority, CBZ, EmpowerBank and the agriculture ministry’s exhibition stands.
Bison Agro supplies and services Belarusian agricultural and heavy equipment in Zimbabwe.
The company is also introducing 12 to 15 horsepower mini-tractors targeting smallholder and communal farmers, while providing after-sales services, spare parts and technical support.
The wider Zimbabwe-Belarus mechanisation programme involves machinery valued at about US$282 million, including more than 3 700 tractors, 80 combine harvesters and 30 grain carriers.
Financial institutions are also increasing their role in providing farmers with access to mechanisation.
CBZ Agro-Yield head of supply chain and mechanisation Mr Godfrey Sagotora said the institution was now implementing Phase Three of a US$30 million tractor facility, with more than 40 tractor units already supplied.
“We are currently in Phase 3 of the mechanisation scheme. This is actually a US$30 million tractor facility that we are working on.
“From inception, under Agro-Yield, we have managed to push over 40 tractor units,” he said.
Mr Sagotora said CBZ was providing farmers with a broader package covering machinery, inputs, working capital, transportation, warehousing and market access.
“CBZ’s line of thinking is that they are supposed to give farmers a full package of services so that it improves productivity and quality of the crop that we take to the market,” he said.
Prof Jiri said smallholder mechanisation remained challenging because farmers operated on small plots, making large machinery difficult to use economically.
“When we try to mechanise, for example, Pfumvudza, it is always a challenge because the scale is small.
“The challenge, obviously, for the Government is to come up with appropriate pieces of equipment and mechanisation for that small scale,” he said.
He said the Government was pursuing a model where tractors would service Village Business Units and surrounding communities on a commercial basis.
“We have come up with a model where we would want to roll out a tractor in each village.
“The tractor must also service the entire village. Of course, it must be at a cost so that we are able to maintain the tractor, and also we are able to service it, and also we are able to pay for it,” he said.
He said the commercial model would ensure mechanisation remained sustainable.
“It’s really to ensure that agriculture at every scale becomes a business.
“That is what will make machinery and equipment relevant for the smallholder farmer, and that is what will enable these farmers to embrace technology, tractors included,” he said.
