His Excellency, President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa has launched an extended facility of the mechanization scheme aimed at alleviating hunger in Zimbabwe.
Speaking in Harare this Wednesday, President Mnangagwa said this scheme is the country’s investment.
“It is my singular honour and privilege to join you for the official launch of the Expanded Mechanisation Facility. This is an important milestone in our national journey towards agriculture modernisation, rural industrialisation and overall economic transformation.
“Today's occasion represents much more than the distribution of farming equipment, including tractors and other agricultural implements. It is a deliberate national investment in the productive capacity of our farmers, especially small-holder farmers and broad-based economic empowerment of communities.
“Agriculture is a strategic pillar of our national economy and the realisation of our Vision to become a prosperous and empowered upper middle-income society. Hence, a vibrant and robust agriculture sector guarantees food security and sovereignty, improved nutrition, as well as broader improvements in the livelihoods of our people. It is in this context that my Government is implementing the "Agriculture, Food System and Rural Transformation Strategy 2: 2026-2030" focusing on climate-smart and precision farming. Agriculture mechanisation and modernisation, is to this end, central towards achieving the objectives and ambitions we have set for ourselves.
“Evidence of the total cultivated land annually, present that one million hectares are now under Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme, with animal-drawn implements contributing 19.5% of land tilled. These limitations affect timeliness and constrain the area that farmers can cultivate, intensity of land utilisation and efficiency with which agriculture resources are converted into production.
“Against this backdrop, Zimbabwe must, therefore, continue to move away from predominantly manual labour-intensive agriculture production towards modern, productive, commercially oriented and technologically enabled farming
“The Expanded Farmer Mechanisation Facility, which we are launching on the onset of the 2026/2027 summer cropping season, will, thus, go a long way towards closing the gaps in the agriculture space.
“Our objective is, to ensure that mechanisation is no longer a privilege for farmers with substantial financial resources. Under my Administration, mechanisation and support will remain an accessible productive instrument for Zimbabwean tarmers across the broad agricultural spectrum. We are determined to expand access to affordable, appropriate and reliable machinery, enabling our farmers to increase production, improve yields, reduce production costs and strengthen household incomes.
“Further, my Government is exploring a number of initiatives and financing models available to support investments in agriculture sector. The Mechanisation Development Alliance Framework is contributing to several inter-connected priorities.
“The number of combine harvesters has also increased from 302 in 2017 to the current 486, resulting in a 61% increase. The fraternal win-win bilateral relations between Zimbabwe and Belarus have contributed a whooping total of 3,051 tractors and 150 combine harvesters. Our new thrust is to explore as well as harness opportunities for local manufacture and assembly of mechanisation equipment and machinery.
“I challenge institutions of higher learning and stakeholders in the agriculture ecosystem to continue developing synergies for innovation and reverse engineering. The deployment of applications from this realm should also help bolster our country's domestic production and productivity capabilities.
“It is pleasing that results of our investments in mechanisation are evident in wheat production now at a historical record of 670 000 metric tonnes for the 2026 season.
“This Expanded Mechanisation Facility is designed to create multiple pathways through which farmers can have access to productive machinery and equipment. The increase in Pfumvudza/ Intwasa production from 320,732 hectares at its launch in 2020, to a target of one million hectares this 2026/2027 season necessitates scaling-up mechanisation. Under this climate smart agriculture, there is great scope for our farmers, to benefit from the mechanisation programme being championed by the ZANU PF Government.
“Eligible individual farmers will have the opportunity to acquire appropriate machinery and implements for their agricultural enterprises. In addition, Mechanisation Service Centres which provide an important link between the national mechanisation investment programme and farmers who cannot individually justify the purchase of capital-intensive machinery, will also benefit. This includes capacitation of institutions such as RIDA, AFC and ARDA.
“May, I also, take the opportunity of this event, to once again remind the nation and farmers of the climate change reality. For the 2026-2027 summer cropping season, an El Nino has been projected. Notwithstanding this early warning, let us remain vigilant, focused and united.
“On its part, Government has developed a robust six pillar strategy to prepare the nation for the El-Nino. This comprises:
• Enhanced Strategic Grain Reserve;
• Accelerated Climate-Smart Production;
• Integrated Financing Architecture;
• Livestock Drought Mitigation;
• Enhanced Imports; and
• Coordination, Early Warning Systems and Capacity Building Support.
“In this context, every household, village by village, ward by ward, district by district, and province by province, must play their part towards mitigating the effects of climate change, build resilience and adaptation.
“With these remarks, it is now my distinct honour and privilege to officially launch the Expanded Agriculture Mechanisation Scheme.”