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Victor Maphosa-Mashonaland East Bureau

Several local companies yesterday exhibited various modern farming machinery in Marondera, which are aimed augmenting agricultural activities thereby increasing production.

The machinery is designed for smallholder farmers and is accessible in the country, with these companies saying it is affordable and can make work easier, saving time while ensuring increased yields.

Companies which exhibited included Kurima Machinery and Technology, Mealiebrand, ProChoice and Grownet.

Exhibited machines included a diesel powered Pfumvudza Auger, which is designed to drill holes for Pfumvudza farmers and a two-wheel diesel powered tractor, commonly known as the walking tractor which is fitted with a ploughing disk and can plough a hectare within four hours, as well as a two wheel tractor planter and reaper.

Hundreds of communal farmers from Marondera district gathered in ward 6 for the exhibition and appreciated the technology after representatives from the companies took them on a tour of their stands and explained how the machinery operates.

The event was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development.

Speaking on the sidelines of the exhibition, Mashonaland East Provincial Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services (ARDAS) acting director Mr Leonard Munamati called on farmers to embrace the use of these machines, saying it made work easier and saves time.

“These machines will assist our smallholder farmers and will transform their farming activities. Work will be easily done, in a short space of time and also these machines are not that expensive. So our smallholder farmers are at an advantage,” he said.

Ms Mantissa Mazoyo, the Mashonaland East Provincial Mechanisation Engineer said the exhibition provided a platform for farmers to know machines which they could use on their farms.

“This expo is assisting farmers to know the types of machinery that we have in the country; machines which can reduce work load at their farms. 

“Some of our farmers were not even aware that there are machines available locally which can assist them in their farming activities so this expo provides that platform.”

Smallholder farmers who attended the event, welcomed the modern machinery.

“We welcome these developments as smallholder farmers. These machines will help us to do work in time and we will surely increase our hectarage because of these machines. 

“An increase in land under agriculture will ensure an increase in production because we will make sure we get more produce than before.

“The Pfumvudza Auger will make work easier for us who joined the concept. No more digging, we will finish work in time because this machine, as demonstrated, will enable us to finish work quickly. 

“Our aim as farmers is for Zimbabwe to be bread basket of Africa again. We want that status back so with machinery coming on the market, we will surely achieve that,” said Mr Garikai Nhunde.

Another farmer Mrs Ratidzo Gororo from ward 6 said the machines would come in handy especially for Pfumvudza farmers.

“I am happy we continue to have companies who supply us with machines which are meant to make work easier for us. 

“All we want is to have machines that help us to increase production on our pieces of land. We want to be food secure as families and as a nation, so we are happy to have these machines. We have been taught how to operate them and we are thankful.”