More than 1 000 tractors for Zim

TENDAI BHEBE IN BULAWAYO

Zimbabwe is set to receive more than 1000 new tractors from Belarus and John Deere as part of government’s eff orts to boost the agriculture sector, it has been learnt.

Belarus, one of the five Eurasia countries and John Deere, a United States of America top agricultural equipment maker, are going to supply the tractors.

Two years ago the Zimbabwean government entered into farm mechanisation deals with Belarus and John Deere.

Zimbabwe and John Deere signed a US$50m farm mechanisation deal.

Belarus will also provide farm machinery worth US$103m.

Martin Munyati, the Acting Director for Mechanisation in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement said the importation of the tractors would help close the glaring gaps in agriculture.

“To close the gaps in farming machinery, the government of Zimbabwe is currently involved in the importation of farm equipment which are tractors, combine harvester, blunters, motorise and boom sprayers,” Munyati said.

He added: “Our country has a huge deficit of tractors and related implements. Our national requirement for tractors and related implements is over 40 000 and only 10 000 is currently available of which about 60% is functional.

Th is indicates a glaring gap of more than 30 000 tractors hence the importation and local production of farm equipment remains inevitable so as to bring transformation of the agricultural sector to reality.

“Th e capacity of the 6 000 available functioning tractors is estimated to be around 600 000 hectares against a targeted area of around 3m hectares for maize, traditional grains, soya beans production under the 2021/2022 summer cropping season.”

Munyati said the tractors would be distributed to both small-scale and large-scale irrigation schemes across the country.

Th e farmers, he said should demonstrate capacity to repay the loans.

Last year in September, Zimbabwe received more than 400 tractors from Belarus , under the initial phase of the farm mechanism programme.

“Th e Belarus facility is divided into two phases.

The first phase was launched in September 2020 by the President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) and we have seen the delivery of all equipment which includes 474 tractors, 60 combine harvesters, 210 planters and five lowbird trucks.

The equipment is being distributed to government institutions, “ Munyati said.

He added: “We will see the country receiving a total of 1813 tractors, 76 combine harvesters, 210 planter and five lowbird trucks.”

Th e second facility is the John Deere farm mechanisation that was launched by the by Mnangagwa in April 2020 .

Th e US$51m facility will see the country receiving a total of 1300 tractors, 80 combine harvesters, 600 planters, 100 boom sprayers and 100 trailers.

“Th e facility was divided into two phases. Th e first phase worth US$20m will see Zimbabwe receiving 525 tractors, 40 combine harvesters and 100 boom sprayers.

To date 60 tractors and 22 combine harvesters have been delivered and distributed.

The balance of the equipment in the first phase is being unlocked, “ Munyati said.