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Elita Chikwati  Senior Agriculture Reporter
Smallholder farmers should be equipped with appropriate technology and machinery to boost agricultural productivity.

This was said by Appropriate Technology Africa director Mr Andy Whyte during a handover of motorbikes to farmers.

The firm is running a monthly promotion where farmers who buy machinery and equipment stand a chance to win motorbikes.

Mr Whyte said the private sector should complement Government efforts to mechanise agriculture.

“Smallholder farmers are the backbone of the agriculture sector,” he said. “The bulk of food producers and tobacco growers come from the smallholder sector and these farmers require machinery to boost productivity and maximise on income.

“The sector cannot afford sophisticated equipment. Thus there is need to come up with small handy machinery that is suitable for this sector.”

Mr Whyte said smallholder farmers required small tractors, water pumps, grinding mills and solar pumps that they could use on their small pieces of land.

“We recognise the importance of technology and the impact on agriculture and people’s livelihoods,” he said. “By mechanising agriculture, we will also be creating more employment opportunities for people.”

Mr Whyte urged farmers to buy machinery from reputable dealers who can also offer technical advice and training.

One of the winners, Mhangura tobacco farmer Mr Last Chiwaridzo said it was important that dealers brought the machinery closer to farming areas for easy access.

“We appreciate the efforts being made by the private sector to come up with machinery that can make our farming easy,” he said.