Zimtrade, PUM sign MOU

Charmaine Brown Herald Reporter
ZimTrade, the country’s premier trade promotion body, on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Netherlands-based volunteer organisation PUM, expected to see successful implementation of the Best Model Farm Project meant to grow horticultural exports for small-scale farmers in Zimbabwe.

The Best Model Farm Project was launched in January, with ZimTrade and PUM collaborating with three medium-sized farms from Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West and Midlands provinces. Under the four-year pilot project, the three farms will be capacitated to on-board small scale farmers as their outgrowers. The project, which will be replicated in other provinces across the country, is designed to improve market access for small scale farmers and grow their contribution towards export earnings.

ZimTrade chief executive Allan Majuru said through the partnership with PUM, ZimTrade anticipated to venture into sweet potatoes and blue berries for the model farms.

“The work began in January 2019, next year we are even going to look at sweet potatoes for the model farms and sustainable ways of growing blueberries because it is not cost effective, but cost efficient,” he said.

Mr Majuru said the MOU will cover collaboration on infrastructure improvements on identical farms, technical skills developement, logistics management and market developments in the country.

Netherlands Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mrs Barbara Van Hellemond said Netherlands was pleased to contribute to sustainable agriculture practices and drive the Zimbabwean government for progress on the bankable 99-year land leases.

“Farmers have reduced their dependency on water by as much as 90 percent and they have almost stopped their use of chemical pesticides in greenhouses,” she said.

“It is with all of this in mind that the Netherlands is proud to contribute to sustainable agriculture practices in other countries.

“With regard to Zimbabwe, I am are happy that despite a challenging economic and political environment, we will keep on pushing the Zimbabwean government for progress on the bankable 99-year land leases, a new land governance policy and respect of property rights in all of Zimbabwe.”