£3,7m shot in the arm for Macheke farmers

MACHEKE farming community is set to benefit from £3,7 million availed by the European Union bloc to establish Local Economic Development Committees (ledc).

Addressing hundreds of farmers at Macheke Rural District Council yesterday, Macheke ledc district chairperson, Councillor Israel Maliki said the farming community would soon export their produce to Europe.

“Our objectives under ledc are to transact and be suppliers of all our produce to Europe and beyond. We now need to set several committees under ledc and group our farmers according to what we produce.

“Macheke is a tobacco farming area, but we also have horticultural and cattle ranching farmers in our area. From the fund we will get our purse and our farmers will get inputs and the necessary farming needs under ledc,” said Councillor Maliki.

The European Union availed £3,7 million to five councils countrywide, and others have since launched their ledcs

In Mashonaland East Province, Murehwa and Mutoko rural district councils will soon get funds to establish ledcs.

Murehwa Rural District Council representative Mr Petros Mhindurwa said a bulk centre will be set at Murehwa Centre so that farmers will be able to bring their produce.

“Investors are ready for farmers to bring their produce, either its tobacco, tomatoes or their cattle breeds will be brought to Murehwa Centre.

“From the bulk centre, produce will find their way to the European market,” he said.

Ward 23 Councillor Brighton Mlambo said ledc members will be ready within the next fortnight.

“In Macheke, ledc will be up and running in the next two weeks and we want our farmers to benefit from the funds.

“We have top notch farmers in horticulture, market gardening, tobacco and cattle rearing. These will be the drivers of our ledc,” he said.