(HERALD) ‘Farm mechanisation a continuous process’

‘Farm mechanisation a continuous process’
Business Reporter

THE farm mechanisation programme would be a continuous process until the agricultural industry has been totally empowered, Minister of Agricultural Mechanisation Dr Joseph Made said on Wednesday. Officially, the launch of the fourth phase of the programme is in July but Dr Made said it was not only going to be limited to the phases but should be held with a long-term view since distribution and sourcing the equipment was currently ongoing.


Dr Made said that President Mugabe had already set the tone for empowerment at the UN Food Summit in Rome.

President Mugabe said people can help address the question of food security if they are given better access to natural resources and to that extent Government had taken measures to boost agricultural activity.

Government is aiming at providing the basic conditions for a largely self sustaining development of the agricultural subsector of mechanisation.

Tools, implements and powered machinery are essential and major inputs to agriculture, Dr Made said adding that the level, appropriate choice and subsequent proper use of these inputs has a direct and significant effect towards increasing productivity and on the whole achieving profitability.

"The global food crisis should not be taken lightly because as it stands now the prices of agricultural inputs and equipment has risen dramatically as countries gear up for the shortages," he said.

He added that Zimbabwe had a head start in preparing for its agriculture industry as compared to other countries.

A total of 1 500 tractors had been sourced for Phase 4 of the programme while Dr Made said the number of scotch carts had been increased to one million to accommodate those who did not receive in the previous phases.

Dr Made said the programme had assumed a broader perspective as it now included roam discs, seed drills, motor bikes and even on a smaller scale hand sprayers (knapsacks).

Seed drills were helpful for small grain planting where planting could be even and intensive and it was particularly helpful because it could be used for all types of small grains.

The assembling of the larger equipment had been done in Zimbabwe, not only providing employment but also giving locals the technical skills when service is required.

The assembling is headed by a team of Chinese military personnel under the ZimChina relations. A third of the consignment is coming from China.

The programme was not only limited to cover equipment but would also include other components, which contribute towards the realisation of the broader agricultural policy.

"We have also sourced herbicides, insecticides and dipping chemicals which cannot be divorced from mechanisation," said the minister.

Farm mechanisation was beneficial to every aspect of the society and was not only limited to the farming community.

Dr Made said the programme has also boosted earnings of companies like Zimplow, Gulliver, Steelnet and Tractive and even the indigenous companies.