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Zimbabwe will soon benefit from a tractor scheme to boost productivity and improve their lives as well.
The Zimbabwe National Farmers Union, equipment suppliers Zimtrac and a local bank, ZB are rolling out the latest mechanisation programme.
Under the programme, ZB Bank pays an initial 30 percent deposit for a tractor to Zimtrac on behalf of an interested farmer.
The interested farmer should hold an account with the bank.
The farmer will repay the bank before following up with the remaining installments.
Interest rates are at 15 percent.
“The Cotton Producers and Marketers Association of Zimbabwe and ZNFU in this case serve as the collateral as any farmer belonging to the association is covered. The association is an affiliate of ZNFU.
“We are just continuing with the mechanisation programme set in motion by the Government to enhance farmers’ capacity to produce effectively and competitively,” national vice chairman of the association Mr Morris Mukwe told farmers gathered at Nembudziya Growth Point in Gokwe yesterday.
Mr Mukwe said they were currently engaging more banks and the government to improve farmers’ access to funds so that they could take advantage of the tractor scheme to boost productivity and improve their socio-economic situation as well.
Zimtrac is importing the tractors from India.
The first batch of 400 tractors is currently awaiting shipment while another 20 are already in Zambia and will be arriving soon.
More tractors will soon follow as the programme goes national.
Farmers who want to buy on cash basis need to raise US$12 800 for a 45-horsepower, two-wheel drive tractor, US$17 000 for a 60 horsepower- two-wheel drive tractor while an 80-horsepower and four-wheel drive tractor costs US$28 000.
Zimtrac sales director Mr Steven Curle said the tractors are coming with back-up kits had a one-year and 1 000hrs warranty.
Repayment period is between 18 and 24 months.
“Farmers can also buy the tractors in clusters to make payment easier and allow production to rise while they mobilise more resources for more tractors,” said Mr Curle.
Zimtrac transported a 45-horsepower tractor to Nembudziya to show the farmers, most of whom openly expressed their excitement about joining the programme.
“The tractor project is good and is a key driver to economic empowerment through agriculture. Most of us lost our cattle to drought so the tractors, especially the 45 horsepower will take care of our draught power concerns,” a farmer from Gokwe North Mr Smart Bangure said.
Another farmer from the same area Mr Nelson Mapurisa said the mechanisation programme would allow those who had not benefited from the government initiated one to benefit too.
“The programme is actually good, as you can see we do not have adequate pastures for cattle so the tractor can replace cattle and we can only keep a few for milk, meat and other socio-economic matters.
“Tractors will also enable us to meet deadlines and will also serve as transport when we ferry produce to the markets,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Mukwe also added that eight provinces – Manicaland, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West and the Midlands would be taking part in the programme that has already gotten underway in the Midlands.
He also challenged farmers to shun buyers offering less than US$2 for the white gold this season and pleaded with chiefs and the association members to be actively involved in the marketing of cotton so that farmers are not ripped off.