Paul Nyathi
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa commissioned the first batch of Agricultural equipment to mark the 151 million United States dollar Mechanisation Programme.
The Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement Dr Masuka was presented with a symbolic key for the equipment by Belarus Industry Minister Mr Parkhomchik Petr Aleksandrovich soon after cutting the ribbon to officially commission the equipment.
Zimbabwe’s Honorary Consul to Belarus Alexander Zingman said the ambitious $58 million deal between the two countries will revolutionalise Zimbabwe’s agriculture industry.
“This deal brings Belarusian expertise in agriculture and engineering to Zimbabwe. Both countries have been expanding ties since 2015 and this deal is a win-win for both,” said Alexander Zingman.
The agriculture deal was signed in 2018, with Belarus providing farming machinery and advanced technology to Zimbabwe, as well as training for local farmers in cultivation, seeding, irrigation, and crop harvesting. It also provided the project with long-term financing for the acquisition of equipment.
AFTRADE DMCC represents all the leading manufacturers in Belarus. It has set up a servicing centre in Harare to provide spare parts and warranty services. Mobile service vehicles will also cater to farming communities in the provinces.
Belarusian technical specialists have been sent to Zimbabwe for one year to provide training to farmers in modern farming techniques. Zimbabwean specialists will get two months training in Belarus.
“This project will enable Zimbabwean farmers to boost the productivity of their land and to reduce their losses through timely crops harvesting. The result will be that farmers can ensure the food security of Zimbabwe itself and, where possible, also raise their income levels by exporting their produce,” said Zingman.
Belarus and Zimbabwe are complementary in many ways when it comes to trade. Belarus provides sophisticated technology and investment, which Zimbabwe can use to boost its economy and productivity. Bilateral trade was over $30 million for the past 3 years. For the first four months of 2020, trade between Belarus and Zimbabwe has already exceeded $7 million.
The two countries are also developing joint projects in geology, farming and transport, as well as the construction of a solar power plant near Harare.
In February last year, Emmerson Mnangagwa gave Belarus 10 000 ha of land for agricultural production in Zimbabwe in a deal that was not apparently clearly exposed to the country.
The land is directly administered by the Office of Belarus President, Alexander Lukashenko.
Experts from Belarus came into the country to select the plots of land, test the soil and identity the type of fertilizers needed. They also studied the matters of irrigation and logistics and how to transport agricultural machines and equipment from Belarus to Zimbabwe.
Belarusians reportedly planned to grow maize and soya first and rice and wheat later. They also planned to build a dairy farm for 1000 cows by the end of last year.
Cattle for the project were to be brought from New Zealand. Simultaneously, a meat and milk processing line was to be launched.
Mnangagwa visited Belarus in January 2019. He invited Belarus President, Lukashenka to pay a visit to Zimbabwe in a surprise new cosy relationship.
The land deal could have been one of the bills that were signed when Zimbabwe and Belarus signed secretive deals worth US$350 million in September last year.
Mnangagwa witnessed the signing ceremony in Harare.