Belindah Mutayiwa
GOVERNMENT has identified vast tracts of idle land in Kanyemba and Mbire areas for agricultural partnerships with international investors, in a development set to trigger farm mechanisation, modernisation and increased production.
Ministry of Land, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Settlement Deputy Minister Vangelis Haritatos told The Sunday Mail that China, India and Belarus investors were showing interest in farming in Zimbabwe.
He said; “So far, I have personally taken the Belarusians to these areas in which they are targeting an initial 10 000 hectares for farming in Kanyemba. l am currently in discussions with several Chinese (agricultural) investors.
“The Belarusians were also talking about investing in value addition of agricultural products and they took soil samples from the area they want to work on.
“We have not yet signed any Memoranda of understanding with any investor, but we have had great interest from them.”
Deputy Minister Haritatos said the areas under target were in natural ecological region five, which is dry, but the investors were attracted by the abundant water in the Zambezi River for use in irrigation farming.
He said the investors were specifically eyeing production of sorghum, soya beans, citrus, cotton, and sugar cane.
Deputy Minister Haritatos said, in a bid to improve the attractiveness of the area, Government was tarring the Guruve to Kanyemba road network.