Equipment firm empowers farmers

AGRICON Equipment yesterday opened a training centre for farmers in Chinhoyi that will provide them with skills and knowledge on how to maximise yields using their highly mechanised equipment.

Agricon officials said the training facility was aimed at enhancing food security in the country in line with the objectives of the country’s economic blueprint Zim-Asset.

The training will involve both theory and practical lessons for operators of the machinery and would be done in partnership with BlueSky Farms.

Agricon is the official agent of CASE IH, the world’s leading manufacturer of agriculture and construction equipment, KUHN farm implements supplier and SANY of China.

The training school was officially opened by Case IH vice president Mr Matthew Foster.

“We are very much focused on productivity. We want to work with professional producers and farmers, developing products and solutions for them to enhance productivity. We are very much concerned with what we can do using technology to minimise risks of farmers.

“We understand that farming is not an easy lifestyle and there are many risks and difficulties involved. We also provide a full range of service parts to make sure that we don’t just deliver machines, but also help you throughout the whole life cycle of the machinery.”

Agricon chief executive Mr Faizul Materia said: “The purpose of this facility we are launching today is to enhance food security in line with the concept of Zim-Asset and add value to our products. Training at this facility does not require any special education skills.

“This facility will train operators and owners of machines on how to make these machines efficient utilising the technology that has been put into it. This training facility is available to all our customers — from small-scale to commercial.

“It allows them to understand how to maximise the utilisation of machinery to enhance their yields and productivity, and this will in turn improve our economy and once again make our country the breadbasket of the region and hopefully a net exporter of food in the near future.”

Southern Trading Company chief executive officer Mr Phil Mushosho said: “This facility is going to be open to the region but our first priority is the local farmers.

This is really an empowerment centre and if there is going to be any charge it is going to be minimal, maybe to cover costs for lunch and training material. We want to empower people, so that they can maximise the use of their machinery.”