The ManicaPost
Lovemore Kadzura
Rusape Correspondent
THE private sector has warmed up to Government’s call for non-State actors to invest in the agricultural industry to ensure food security and cut the import bill.
The move by Government has seen companies like Nyaradzo Group which is synonymous with funeral assurance and general insurance business diversifying their portfolios and venturing into farming business.
Corporate farming where well resourced firms enter into the sector on a large scale has the potential to ensure that Zimbabwe regains its breadbasket status.
Nyaradzo Group through its recently launched Nyaradzo Asset Management Company (NAMCO) is making serious inroads in the agriculture sector and in Manicaland they are running three farms where they are growing a variety of crops.
Using their financial muscles and ability to raise funds on the market, NAMCO is running highly mechanised farms and growing seed wheat, wheat for flour, seed maize and sugar beans seed in Manicaland.
They have plans to expand their operations to other provinces.
Nyaradzo Legal Manager, Mr Misheck Mataranyika said feeding the nation should not be left to Government alone, hence the need for the private sector to come on board and play a pivotal role in producing food for the nation and exports.
He added that at their Middlespos Farm in Nyazura they have 74 hectares under wheat and 15ha under seed wheat. They are contracted by SeedCo.
They are employing 43 permanent employees.
“Nyaradzo Asset Management Company was established in 2018, becoming the country’s 18th member of the association of asset managers. As a new player in an established industry, NAMCO focuses on alternative investments instruments, thus bringing corporate farming to our product range in addition to traditional investments.
“NAMCO obtained a prescribed asset status in 2021 with the intention to raise US$20m over five years through its special vehicle, Sahwira Agriculture.
“It is a corporate vehicle designed to invest in large scale commercial crop production, with a focus on staple cereals such as maize and wheat to contribute to the country’s food security,” said Mr Mataranyika.
He added: “Sahwira Agriculture raised $61m for the summer cropping season last year.
The money was spent on irrigation and other mechanical instruments which will undoubtedly insure food security and inspire young people to pursue careers in agriculture.
“The changing weather patterns are affecting production and experience has shown that our water bodies must be dedicated to irrigation so that the food needs of our ever growing population are catered for.
“Water is a blessing for mankind and lifeblood for farming. Nations, cities and civilisation have grown around water bodies. Sahwira Agriculture will support the introduction of modern agriculture.”
Mr Gary Grubb of Valley Irrigation said irrigation is the ultimate answer to any successful agriculture investment.
“Zimbabwe has the capacity, of not only having wheat sufficiency, but export the crop.
“This is only possible if there is a serious shift to irrigation of the crop.
“The vision that Sahwira Agriculture has is so brilliant and must be fully embraced. Corporate agriculture is the way to go,” he said.
