Govt, French firms in combine harvesters deal

The government has engaged some France companies to supply combine harvesters, grain driers and shelling equipment as efforts to boost Command Agriculture continue to gather momentum.

Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Dr Joseph Made told ZBC News on his return from France that several French companies will enter into partnerships with Zimbabwe to supply combine harvesters.

The country will start receiving the combines harvesters and grain driers to boost Command Agriculture Programme starting next year if all goes as per plan.

Turning to the current maize crop, Dr Made says a technical sub-committee team for Command Agriculture has already identified combine harvesters which are functional and those which require quick fix ahead of the anticipated bumper harvest.

The government is also finalising deals to secure agriculture equipment from China and India with expectations high that the irrigation equipment secured under the Zimbabwe-Brazil More Food for Africa programme will continue to benefit the small scale farmers.