Political Correspondent
Mazowe, Zimbabwe – President Emmerson Mnangagwa has announced a massive US$1.98 billion loan facility designed to help farmers combat climate change through irrigation infrastructure over the next decade.
Speaking at the launch of the Productivity Booster Kit Programme in Mazowe on Monday, the President detailed the ambitious plan that will provide smallholder farmers with essential irrigation equipment including pumps, pipes, and sprinklers covering one hectare per farmer.
“My Government plans to allocate US$1.98 billion over 10 years as a loan for the Productivity Booster Kit Programme. Additionally, five banks have committed to providing additional working capital,” Mnangagwa stated.
The program specifically targets tobacco smallholder farmers, with 10,000 beneficiaries set to receive US$6,000 each in the first phase for acquiring the productivity booster kits. The initiative aims to localize procurement of farming equipment within the tobacco value chain.
“The devastating effects of the El Niño-induced drought during the 2023/2024 season, among other experiences, have shown us the urgent need to climate-proof agriculture,” Mnangagwa emphasized, highlighting the program’s urgency amid changing weather patterns.
The government has set an ambitious target to develop 496,000 hectares of land under irrigation by 2030, with over 350,000 hectares dedicated to summer cereal production. According to projections, A1 farmers are estimated to contribute US$6.14 billion to the agricultural sector GDP from an envisaged production of 10 million tons per year.
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