John Deere facility set to propel economic growth
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa last year launched the US$51 million John Deere Mechanisation Facility with the sole aim of transforming the agriculture sector and ensuring the industry becomes instrumental in fighting and eliminating poverty.
is private sector-led financing model for the agricultural sector is earmarked to reduce the burden on taxpayers and sustainably support deserving farmers. It is hoped that it will also spur economic growth and improve the country's fortunes.
Selection of beneficiaries of the John Deere Mechanisation Facility, which include tractors (1 300) combine harvesters (80) planters (600), disc harrows (200), boom sprayers (100) and trailers (100), among other implements, is under the following banks; Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe, Stanbic Bank and AFC’s land bank.
Government entered the US$50 million deal with the global tractor manufacturer three years ago and it was eventually signed following Mnangagwa’s engagement with John Deere Agriculture Worldwide president Mark von Pentz, who expressed his eagerness to partner the government in boosting the agriculture sector through mechanisation.
e tractors will be used mainly by 5 000 farmers under the National Agriculture Recovery Plan and by early this year the response was said to be very positive.
According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation, Africa has less than two tractors per 1 000 hectares of cropland compared to 10 tractors per 1 000 hectares in South Asia and Latin America.
Under the African Union’s 2014 Malabo Declaration, African Union member states explicitly committed themselves to making investments in “suitable, reliable, and affordable mechanisation and energy supplies” in order to double productivity by 2025.
Meanwhile, during the commissioning of the facility at the Institute of Agriculture Engineering in Hatcliffe President Mnangagwa said being food self-sufficient was one of the government's top priorities.
“ e launch of this facility attests to the commitment by my government to work with various partners and investors, guided by the Zimbabwe Open for Business mantra to grow, and prosper our economy so that our people enjoy better quality of life,” he said.
e President explained that the facility was a welcome development, as it would go a long way in assisting local farmers with the much-needed mechanisation solutions.
is facility will also help ensure the success of the Agricultural Recovery Plan which is meant to ensure that Zimbabwe achieves self-sufficiency in the production of cereals.
e President, however, expressed concern that out of the 4,31 million arable hectares in the country, one million hectares were under draught animal power and only half a million hectares under tractor power with a balance of 2,8 million hectares requiring farm mechanisation. — AFC