Tendai Mugabe
Herald Reporter
THE Agricultural and Rural Development Authority has embarked on a massive transformation of its estates countrywide into self-reliant business entities.
Arda adopted a business model to finance its operations after failing to obtain funding from Treasury in the last 72 months.

Speaking during a tour of Arda’s Nijo Estate in Goromonzi last week, the estate’s manager, Mr Thomas Nyagwande, said the farm had transformed itself to become self-reliant.

Arda board chairman Mr Basil Nyabadza said the business model would also be replicated at all Arda estates in Zimbabwe.
“The multi-currency economy requires us to come up with a viable business model that would keep us afloat while we carry on with our mandate of developing agriculture and the rural communities,” he said.

Mr Nyagwande said Arda Nijo Estate had moved to produce crops that earn them enough revenue to fund operations.
Mr Nyagwande said the estate generated at least US$1 million every year. It was now targeting to increase the figure to US$1,5 million this year.
“We have not received any funding from Government since dollarisation,” he said. “We have, however, received a number of short-term loans from financial institutions.

“Our current turnover stands at US$1 million and we have projected to increase it to US$1,5 million this year.”
Mr Nyagwande attributed the estate’s success to a ready market in Harare.
“We have managed to take our produce to nearby markets in Harare, especially Mbare Musika, while supplying supermarkets in the city with potatoes and other farm produce.”

Mr Nyagwande said they were diversifying their operations                by adding value to their produce.
He said the estate would soon start processing milk products from their dairy.
“We now want to move away from the era of selling raw farm produce and soon we will be making yoghurt,” he said. .

“We have since bought a pasteuriser and that will help us a lot in our efforts to add value to our produce.”
But Mr Nyagwande lamented the Zesa power cuts for derailing development.

“Most of our pumps are affected when power is interrupted and it damages equipment when it is restored.”
The estate is also working with people in the surrounding areas in various ways.

“We assist with tillage and other land preparations for communal and resettled farmers in Goromonzi district,” he said.
He said the activities were in line with Arda’s mandate of promoting rural development.