Maravi

(TALKZIMBABWE) Implements worth US$40m arrive from China

Implements worth US$40m arrive from China
Floyd Nkomo
Mon, 18 May 2009 09:20:00 +0000

MORE than 300 tractors and other farming implements arrived in Zimbabwe from China last week under a 40-million-U.S. dollar government-supported scheme being facilitated by Farmers World Holdings.

Other implements in the consignment include 300 disc harrows, 300 ploughs, more than 100 generators of different sizes, excavators, front-end loaders, 300 reapers, 30-ton trucks, 10-tonne trucks, 30 combine harvesters, electric motors for irrigation, irrigation sprinklers and pipes.

This is the second phase of the program run by Farmers World in partnership with the government. The first phase was launched in 2006 with 25 million dollars worth of implements being delivered to the country.

Officiating at a function to receive the consignment at Farmers World Holdings premises in Msasa, the Minister of Agriculture and Mechanisation, Joseph Made, said such companies as Farmers World Holdings would continue to receive government support as they were supporting the land reform program.

Made said Zimbabwe should not continue talking about the land reform program without talking about equipping the farmers who already have the land.

"We now have to talk about farmers being equipped to enhance the farming operations and productivity. As you can see, the equipment coming is more sophisticated in terms of efficiency," said Made.

He said farmers benefiting under such schemes should be aware that the equipment needs to be serviced and paid for.

Farmers World chief executive Edward Raradza said the consignment that arrived last week had 384 tractors of different sizes. Raradza said farmers needing the equipment were expected to pay a 20 percent deposit. The balance was to be paid over five years at an interest rate of 4 percent.

He said those without cash for deposit could pay using their current crops or livestock with a value equivalent to 20 percent deposit.

The prices of the tractors will range from 28,000 dollars to 61,000 dollars.

Farmers were urged to buy generators to guarantee power supplies, especially during the winter wheat season.

Raradza said only productive farmers were expected to benefit under the scheme as was the case in the previous one. "We want productive farmers only to come forward for the equipment. Our teams are there to visit the farmers who want to access the equipment to check on their productivity."

He said all the equipment was fully insured unlike in the first phase where farmers were required to insure on their own.

Labels: CHINA, FARMERS WORLD HOLDINGS, JOSEPH MADE, LAND REFORM, MECHANISATION

posted by MrK @ 2:58 PM