adminThe Commercial Sugarcane Farmers of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Sugarcane Development Association signed the MoU with the two companies.
Ecobank and Tongaat Hulett are guarantors of the deal. Initially, Mahindra will supply over 50 tractors while Honda will supply 400 motorbikes to the farmers.
Lack of farm mechanisation has emerged as one of the major setbacks to the agrarian reform that the Government implemented in 2000.CSFZ president Mr Ardmore Hwarare said the deal would go a long way in boosting production.
“The deal will open a new chapter to sugarcane growers.What we want to see is an increase in sugarcane production as we target to grow the crop in the whole of Masvingo province and the rest of the country,” he said.
ZSDA president Edmore Veterai said the two associations would continue to work together to develop the sub-sector.
“We want sugar to contribute more to Gross Domestic Product because it will be grown in the country forever while diamonds and other minerals deposits will eventually be exhausted,” he said.
Mahindra Zimbabwe managing director Mr Sunjay Babbar said the company was committed to opening a distribution centre in Chiredzi.
“We will open a service delivery in Chiredzi where the tractors will be received directly and spare parts will also be available,” he said. – New Ziana.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter