Zimbabwe to restore its breadbasket status

Through the agricultural farming equipment that was financed by the Brazilian government recently, Zimbabwe has the opportunity to regain its status as the bread basket of Africa once again.

Once the second largest economy in Southern Africa, Zimbabwe's economy was purely anchored on farming and agricultural based industries.

Brazil should be commended for supporting Zimbabwean policies. The agricultural sector is the backbone of the economy. Accordingly, the economic blue print Zim-ASSET seeks to improve and increase food security as well as eradicate poverty through agriculture. Hence, this agricultural equipment distributed to the country will help to boost food production together with the Gross Domestic Product.

Agricultural mechanization is beneficial and critical as it boost agricultural efficiency and prelude the economy independence that all the industrialized nations are enjoying today. In agriculture, mechanization speeds up the rate at which jobs are accomplished and are carried out in the nation's economy. Therefore, with this loan facility of agricultural equipment, Government should not accept further reasons for food deficit in the country.

Agricultural output is therefore divided into two, thus, between cash crops from plantation agriculture and food crops from subsistence agriculture.

The responsible distributors of this farming equipment should follow President Mugabe's words that, this agricultural equipment is not meant for certain individuals but it should be distributed in communal areas where the entire community is supposed to benefit from it and automatically own it. Consequently, the distributors must be encouraged to fairly distribute the equipment such that every community benefits from it.

According to President Mugabe, the programme of handover of agricultural equipment dubbed as, "More Food for Africa Zimbabwe" is aimed at empowering small-scale farmers who are believed to be more productive if compared to large-scale farmers. In Zimbabwe, Land Reform Programme was put into practice as an effective measure of increasing food production through empowering the black majority populace. Written reports have it that small scale farmers produce about 80% of the food consumed in most African countries to date.
 
However, most of these small scale farmers were scaling back their crops due to lack of proper farming equipment.  This has led the nation into constant reliance on importing maize from other countries which continued to cripple the economy.

Now that the beneficiaries of the agricultural equipment will be communal farmers, it is advised that there make use of the equipment in order to maximize production. Without fail, the next farming season should witness a positive change in terms of food production. 

Also, farms contribute directly to the economy, thus, through employing people and paying wages and salaries.

However, the government should constantly monitor and make follow ups on whether the communal farmers will be utilizing the equipment effectively. The nation should be able to generate enough food for consumption and export if there is surplus.

Revitalizing the agricultural sector will not only increase food production, but it will also enhance in rejuvenating the industrial sector. Most of the companied which closed had a direct link with agriculture and a downfall in agriculture also meant their closure.

Foreign trade is an important segment in most countries' economy. In Sri Lanka, major exports include tea, rubber, coconut products and foodstuffs. It is said that Sri Lanka is the largest exporter of black tea in the world.   By growing and exporting cash crops, such as cotton and tobacco, Zimbabwe can improve on its GDP as well as revitalizing the manufacturing industries.
It is imperative to note that agricultural industry is a key driver of productivity and prosperity. By restoring manufacturing industries such David Whitehead and Merlin Zimbabwe jobs will be created, hence, eradicate poverty. Job creation is one of the objectives of Zim-ASSET.