Consider partnership on idle farms: Minister

MINISTER of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Cde Monica Mutsvangwa (pictured) has urged farmers to consider partnerships with well established farmers to maximise production.

Speaking in Chipinge on Tuesday at Enhoek farm Cde Mutsvangwa said Manicaland province especially Chipinge district was a sleeping giant which had the potential of generating much-needed foreign currency if farms were used to full capacity. Enhoek farm is the leading tea, macadamia nuts and avacado producer in the country.

Said Cde Mutsvangwa: “Let’s consider partnering well-established companies who are in the agriculture sector and explore new avenues with them so that we sell our produces to their market. We have a lot of local farmers who grow cash crops such as macadamia nuts, tea, coffee, avocado and sugarcane but these farmers are failing to get proper markets unlike big companies who have a ready market outside the country. The Government has set up a framework which allowed subcontracting between local farmers and potential investors hence small scale farmers should venture into an out grower scheme where they will partner big companies to maximise production on idle farms in a win-win situation,” she said.

Cde Mutsvangwa also urged farmers to adapt to change and grow new crops and varieties, which have demand on the local and international market. Chipinge district comprises big agro-based companies such as Tanganda tea company (macadamia nuts and tea),Ariston Holdings (macadamia nuts and tea) Rating, Macdom Investment (sugar cane) and Makandi (bananas and macadamia nuts).

On the same occasion, Enhoek director Mr Steyl Willemse pledged to assist out-growers and partner them in growing cash crops.

“Our farm has so far assisted a number of out growers to sell their crops such as macadamia nuts and avocadoes. We also donated macadamia seedlings and technical knowledge so that they can expand their farms,’’ he said.