By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
Harare — In a major boost for Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector, the Government has equipped two key agricultural institutions with a fleet of trucks and operational vehicles to improve the distribution of farming inputs and the efficient delivery of grain to national strategic reserves.
Under the ongoing Presidential Mechanisation Scheme, the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) and the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) received a total of 30 trucks and 15 single-cab vehicles, handed over at a ceremony held in Harare on Wednesday.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr. Anxious Masuka, hailed the initiative as a testament to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s commitment to agricultural transformation.
“We want to thank His Excellency the President for mobilising these trucks. Ten trucks are for ARDA, while 20 trucks and 15 single cabs go to GMB,” said Dr. Masuka.
“These vehicles will equip the two parastatals to carry out their mandate of collecting grain from farmers and distributing inputs, contributing immensely towards food security.”
The GMB and ARDA play a critical role in Zimbabwe’s agricultural value chain—GMB in managing the country’s grain reserves and ARDA in implementing rural development projects and agricultural partnerships.
GMB CEO, Dr. Edson Badarai, welcomed the development, noting the impact the vehicles would have on operations.
“These are critical tools of trade which will make our job easier. We have a mandate to collect grain from farmers and deliver it for welfare support. We used to hire trucks, but with these vehicles, we can now cut operational costs,” he said.
His counterpart at ARDA, Mr. Tino Mhiko, echoed the sentiment, highlighting the cost-efficiency and strategic advantage the trucks would bring.
“We have a big mandate to disburse inputs under our contract farming arrangements. These trucks will ensure fast and efficient movement of inputs, especially during peak seasons. We can also use them to build a revolving fund by hiring them out during off-peak periods,” said Mr. Mhiko.
The Presidential Mechanisation Programme, launched in recent years, has seen the distribution of tractors, combine harvesters, and other farming implements to boost national productivity and improve rural livelihoods.
This latest phase of the programme is expected to significantly enhance the logistical capabilities of both GMB and ARDA, ensuring timely support to farmers and a more robust national food security framework.