ZIMBABWE GOVT. SIGN AGRICULTURE MECHANISATION EQUIPMENT DEAL
Zimbabwe government sign deal to supply agriculture mechanisation equipment worth US$100 million.
Zimbabwe Government has sign a contract with Belarus and John Deerse Manufacturing company. The contract will be to supply agriculture mechanisation equipment worth US$100 million. This will help close Zimbabwe mechanisation gap which has fall short of about 543 000 agricultural implements.
According to the deal, Belarus government will get US$52million while, John Deerse Manufacturing company will get the remaining fund. The aim is to provide Zimbabwe with tractors, combine harvesters, planters and so on.
Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement Vangelis Haritatos said “Mechanisation is certainly a huge problem that we have got in Zimbabwe. We have 33 000 tractors, 500 000 combine harvesters and 10 000 planters in deficit.”
According to him, the government plans to bridge the mechanisation gap within the next three years. Meanwhile, the deal was consider after farmer blamed subdued levels of agricultural production on inefficient and obsolete equipment.
Haritatos also said President has also identified agriculture as a catalyst for investments and economic growth. This is due to its potential to stimulate exports, reduce poverty, create jobs and improve people’s general livelihoods.