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Blessings Chidakwa                                            recently in Mhondoro

Villagers in the Mhondoro-Mubaira area whose cattle died due to January disease and lost their draught power for the summer cropping season, will benefit from a tractor donated by local Muslim humanitarian organisation, Dar al Salaam, in partnership with Muslimehelfen of Germany.

Demonstrating the use of the 21kW tractor in Nhau Village under Chief Mashayamombe in Mhondoro-Mubaira, Dar al Salaam chairman, Mr Agrippa Kapuya said the tractor, which uses the traditional farming implements, was a game changer.

“Cattle here died due to Theileriosis and people have been facing challenges on how to plant and cultivate,” he said. “The good part of the tractor is that it uses the traditional farming implements.

“The tractor has an advantage that people can plough and plant at the same time rather than using the ordinary tractors where one first ploughs and plants later.”

Over 50 000 cattle died due to the tick-borne disease last year alone countrywide.

Mr Kapuya said a single tractor can service three to four villages.

“The tractor uses three litres per hectare and can cover four hectares within two days. It actually increases production compared to cattle. It can also be used to as a replacement of cattle in other areas.”

Mr Kapuya said the country cannot continue importing staple food, but needs to be self-sufficient.