Zimbabwe to receive $34m irrigation equipment

Published: 16 August 2017

ZIMBABWE is set to receive irrigation equipment worth more than $34 million under the second phase of the Brazil $98 million More Food For Africa loan facility.

The country first received agricultural equipment that included tractors, fertiliser spreaders and irrigation kits worth $38,6 million in 2015 under the three tranche Brazil $98 million More Food For Africa loan facility.

Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Deputy Minister responsible for Cropping Davis Marapira said the country would receive irrigation equipment under the second phase by October. He said those who benefited from the first phase are already repaying their loans.

The Deputy Minister said the success of the facility is dependent on the beneficiaries' capacity to repay the loan.

"Our aim is to rehabilitate all irrigation schemes in the country to address food security challenges. We are expecting another batch of irrigation equipment at the end of October from Brazil worth over $34 million under the $98 million More Food for Africa loan facility," said Marapira.

He said equipment comprising centre pivots, harvesters, pipes, disc harrows would benefit local farmers. The Deputy Minister said government wants to harness all water bodies.

"Living near a water body without harnessing it for irrigation purposes should be criminal in Zimbabwe as we move to address food security challenges. We should be able to utilise all water throughout the country and government is moving with haste to assist farmers acquire equipment," he said.

Commissioning the More Food For Africa programme two years ago, President Mugabe said the equipment was one of the many ways of defeating the illegal economic sanctions imposed on the country by the West. He said the only way Zimbabweans could shame Western countries' exploitative tactics was to be productive on their farms.
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Tags: Irrigation,