Mash Central Tobacco Farmers Receive Tractors

Source from:  herald.co.zw 06/13/2007

THE Zimbabwe Farmers Development Company has released 70 tractors to tobacco farmers in Mashonaland Central in a move that is expected to boost production of the crop in the province. ZFDC executive director Mr Thomas Nherera said the consignment was part of the 424 tractors which the company would distribute to tobacco farmers countrywide before the end of this month. Mashonaland Central Governor Cde Ephraim Masawi, who commended the company's loan facility, attended the hand-over ceremony in Mvurwi. Mr Nherera said ZFDC targets to improve tobacco farming nationwide and would before the month-end also release 50 lorries, 120 harrows, 200 ploughs and 120 reapers through the same loan facility. "We are supporting tobacco farmers who have a proven track record and capacity to repay the loans over a period of five years. "Our motive is to improve tobacco farming in the country through providing such tillage units," he said. Mr Nherera said the company had set aside US$25 million for the scheme and would charge a minimum 5 percent interest, including an administration fee. The company also unveiled 30 more tractors available for hire by farmers during their tillage programme. One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Theresa Mutambudzi, said the company's move had brought relief to farmers in the province as the old tractors they were relying on constantly broke down, interrupting their production. "The old tractors which we where using constantly broke down and as a result, I failed to finish planting my wheat on time this winter season," she said. Enditem