Ariston Holdings buoyant

LIVINGSTONE MARUFU

Listed agro-industrial concern Ariston Holdings says it is on course to achieve growth, leveraging on the expected good 2020/2021 summer cropping season, following successive droughts in the past few years that hampered its progress, Business Times can report.

The company’s spokesperson, Brian Kagondo, said this year’s good summer cropping season has brought hope to the company, with most crops on good standing.

“The rains have had a more positive impact on us actually. We started the season well and have good prospects of a good year,” Kagondo said.

He added: “As always, our efforts are at keeping the business improving to the benefit of all stakeholders.”

Ariston has set up irrigation infrastructure at its various estates to ramp up production and remove a dependence on rain-fed agriculture which could be vulnerable to weather vagaries.

The group, which operates most of its estates in Manicaland Province, has also made considerable effort to rehabilitate existing irrigation structures that had been destroyed by Cyclone Idai and establish new schemes.

Currently, more than 70% of the group’s key crops are under irrigation meaning that the agricultural institution can grow all year round.

Kagondo believes a normal rainfall season will help both irrigated and dry land area.

It is expected that output at Ariston, which operates six units across Zimbabwe namely the Blended Tea Factory, Claremont, Clearwater, Kent, Roscommon, and Southdowns Estates, will increase three-fold in the coming few years as new orchards are coming into production.

The conversion of Afrifresh’s loans into equity has also enabled the company to raise cheap long-term capital.

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