Ultime commends Govt

STAFF WRITER
Tobacco firm,Ultime Accolade (Private) Limited, has applauded the Government of Zimbabwe for its capacity building programmes that support the growth of local farmers.
As a beneficiary of the 2022 tobacco loan facility, Ultime has successfully repaid around 85% of the loan amount and encouraged other farmers to view agriculture as a business that can contribute to national prosperity.
The loan facility to Ultime Accolade, a company linked to the Masuka family, was put under the test and passed all integrity checks, the company said in a statement.
The transaction was also put under the spotlight of the anti-corruption watchdog, the Zimbabwe Anti- Corruption Commission (ZACC).
Business Times is also informed that recorded statements by the relevant government officials in the ministry reiterated its integrity.
By paying the bulk of its loan obligation to the Tobacco Industry Marketing Board (TIMB) ahead of time, Ultime Accolade has vindicated the transparency of the process, and the nobleness of the initiative in uplifting local tobacco farmers for national prosperity, and the realisation of Vision 2030.
The capacity-building at ULTIME and several other local tobacco farmers through the TIMB loan facility has improved Zimbabwe’s tobacco performance in hectarage under tillage, output, product quality, and revenue terms, particularly foreign currency generation.
Zimbabwe’s agricultural prospects are promising as the country implements its agriculture and food systems, a sustainable performance blueprint launched by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, which serves as the cornerstone for the countryto realise its Vision 2030.
Barring the impact of the El-Nino-induced drought on the 2023 agriculture season, Zimbabwe recorded a bumper maize harvest of 2.7m tonnes in 2021, a record-breaking tobacco crop yield of 296m kilograms in 2023, and a record wheat harvest of 467 905 tonnes in 2023, among other achievements.
Under the Second Republic, Zimbabwe has witnessed a resurgence of its agricultural fortunes, with indigenous farmers playing a pivotal role in this unfolding performance evolution of the sector.
With efforts in place to put a significant portion of agricultural land under irrigation to mitigate climate change, Zimbabwe’s agriculture is transforming, and with continued investments towards industrialisation, value addition, and integrity in the sector, Zimbabwe will soon be counted among Africa’s economic giants.