By Staff Reporter
Zimbabwe’s agricultural mechanisation programme is significantly increasing production across the country, with Government saying improved access to modern farming equipment has helped drive higher crop yields, expand cultivated land and strengthen national food security.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development says the country’s tractor fleet has more than doubled over the past five years, while the number of combine harvesters has also increased sharply, enabling farmers to plant and harvest on time.
Director of Agricultural Engineering, Mechanisation and Farm Infrastructure Development, Engineer Nhlanhla Magama, said Government has introduced several mechanisation financing facilities through seven financial institutions to improve farmers’ access to agricultural machinery.
“As Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development, we are implementing a number of mechanisation facilities designed to improve farmers’ access to modern agricultural machinery that enhances production and productivity,” said Eng Magama.
“Currently, we are running more than five mechanisation facilities through seven participating financial institutions, namely CBZ Agro Yield, AFC Land Bank, Women’s Bank, EmpowerBank, ZB Bank, POSB and SMEDCO.”
He said Zimbabwe’s national tractor population has grown from about 8,000 in 2020 to more than 17,500, resulting in increased land under cultivation and improved efficiency in farming operations.
“Our national tractor population has increased from around 8,000 in 2020 to more than 17,500 today. This has significantly expanded the area under cultivation, improved the timeliness of farming operations and increased productivity. The country has consequently achieved food security while also producing sufficient feed for livestock through improved mechanised fodder production,” he said.
Eng Magama added that the country’s combine harvester fleet had also expanded from approximately 150 units in 2020 to more than 315, reducing harvesting delays that previously affected the transition between summer and winter cropping seasons.
“The number of combine harvesters has increased from approximately 150 in 2020 to more than 315. This has enabled farmers to harvest on time, allowing a seamless transition between summer and winter cropping seasons. Previously, harvesting delays often resulted in late planting, affecting yields. Those bottlenecks have now been significantly reduced,” he said.
He encouraged farmers to utilise the available financing facilities, saying beneficiaries are required to pay a 15 percent deposit while no collateral is needed to access the equipment.
“We encourage farmers to fully utilise these facilities because profitability starts with increased production, and increased production depends on timely farming operations. Government has created an enabling environment where farmers only require a 15 percent deposit to acquire equipment, with no collateral required.”
One of the beneficiaries of the programme, 29-year-old Goromonzi farmer Mr Pardon Chibamu of Ruargo Farm, said access to mechanisation through EmpowerBank had transformed his farming enterprise.
“I deeply thank His Excellency President Cde Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa for giving us, as the Youth League, an opportunity through EmpowerBank to access facilities that enabled me to procure this tractor and combine harvester,” said Mr Chibamu.
“Before acquiring this equipment, we had the ambition to cultivate larger areas, but we were constrained by the lack of mechanisation. We could only manage about 10 hectares. Today, because of these machines, we are cultivating between 120 and 200 hectares.”
He said the equipment is also providing mechanisation services to surrounding farmers, contributing to increased agricultural production in the district.
Farm manager Mr Loyd Makava said mechanisation had improved efficiency across both crop and livestock production.
“We cultivate maize, potatoes, soyabeans, cabbages and several horticultural crops. Before receiving Government-assisted mechanisation equipment, harvesting was one of our biggest challenges. Today, the combine harvester has completely changed the situation. It is performing exceptionally well and allows us to harvest efficiently and on time,” he said.
“The tractor has equally transformed our tillage operations. We are cultivating much larger areas than before, but its importance goes beyond cropping. We now use it to grind maize stalks and crop residues into livestock feed. That means mechanisation is supporting both crop production and livestock production.”
Ruargo Farm currently has more than 50 hectares under maize, about 10 hectares of potatoes, over 15,000 cabbage plants ready for market, more than 25,000 broiler chickens, over 300 cattle and a growing piggery project.
Mr Makava said the farm is now preparing to expand into winter wheat production after completing harvesting earlier than in previous seasons.
Nationally, Government says mechanisation has contributed to increased wheat production, improved maize output, continued growth in tobacco production, expansion of horticulture and higher productivity in the dairy and livestock sectors, positioning agriculture as one of Zimbabwe’s key drivers of economic growth.