Agric equipment expected under second phase of the Belarus farm mechanisation facility

Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka

By Darlington Mutsvairi

Zimbabwe’s farming industry is set to increase area planted per season by over 130 000 hectares as  Government has approved the second phase of Belarus Farm Mechanisation Loan Facility worth almost US$52 million.

Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka yesterday presented to Cabinet a Phase II report of the Belarus Farm Mechanisation Facility which was subsequently adopted.

Zimbabwe will receive various farming equipment in the form of tractors, disc harrows and combine harvesters in phase II to the tune of US$51 940 149, a passage which will advance the state of mechanisation in the country.

Addressing a post cabinet media briefing yesterday, Information Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa said, “Under Phase II, the Republic of Belarus will supply an additional US$51 940 149 worth of farm mechanisation equipment, following the successful launch of the first US$51 million facility on 30th September, 2020.”

The equipment will enable the country to increase area covered per season in terms of tillage by 133 700 hectares.

“The one thousand three hundred and thirty seven (1 337) tractors, five (5) disc harrows and sixteen (16) combine harvesters to be supplied under Phase II will raise the mechanised tillage area by one hundred and thirty three thousand seven hundred (133 700) hectares,” she further said.

Last month, President Emmerson Mnangagwa launched a US$51 million Phase One Belarus farm mechanisation facility where the country received part of the equipemet.

This included 60 self-propelled grain harvesters, 210 precision seed drills, 474 tractors of different power capacities, fifth wheel trucks with semi-trailers for transportation of heavy equipment and four dump trucks, six semi-trailers with hydraulic manipulator for transportation of construction machinery, 10 drop-side trucks, fire-fighting equipment critical in forest business, cities and other communities and emergency rescue operations.

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