Tendai Matunhu

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has called for Public Private Partnership (PPP) in the agricultural sector to enhance production and food security. Officially launching Agriculture Dealers and Manufacturers Association (ADMA) in Harare last Friday,

President Mnangagwa said, “We are gravely concerned about the numerous old and unused agriculture equipment lying idle throughout the country. Some of which can be brought back to usable state.

“I encourage ADMA and our Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Settlement to develop partnerships to repair, rehabilitate and maintain the said equipment. This will go a long way towards enhancing land utilisation as well as increase the productivity, sustainable food security and agriculture led industrialisation of our economy.”

Speaking at the same event, ADMA Chairperson Mr Marko Carizio highlighted on the importance of agricultural mechanisation so as to improve agricultural production in the country.

“The importance of agricultural mechanisation to improve agricultural production in Zimbabwe cannot be over emphasised. Mechanisation narrows the cost of agricultural production and increases the agricultural competitiveness by enabling farmers to leverage economies of scale. In order for them to be globally competitive in the production of maize, soya beans and wheat, it is essential to mechanise production. 

Mr Carizio also commended Government’s Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP).

“The industry welcomes the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP). We acknowledge the reduction in the fiscal deficit, the delinking of the USD to the RTGS dollar, the creation of the interbank market for foreign currency procurement are very vital to this industry.

“We note the very strict financial discipline Government has imposed on the Ministries and parastatals in its bid to stabilise the currency in the market.”