Yesha
Senior Member
- Jan 28, 2026
- 183
- 97
Zimbabwe’s government is rolling out an ambitious agricultural mechanisation programme aimed at providing 35,000 tractors — one for each village in the country — to boost rural farming, increase food production and modernise agriculture.
The programme, part of the country’s National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), will see villages equipped with small tractors to support Village Business Units (VBUs) and help communities move away from relying mainly on traditional farming methods such as hoes and animal-drawn ploughs.
Agriculture Minister Dr Anxious Masuka said President Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected to launch the mechanisation initiative in the coming months.
The minister said Zimbabwe’s tractor fleet has grown from 7,500 in 2017 to about 17,800 tractors, with an additional 5,000 tractors expected through partnerships with local dealers.
He said modernising agriculture is key to transforming rural communities into productive business hubs and improving national food security.
Government is also working to support commercial farmers with more machinery while encouraging young people to enter agriculture. Under the current policy, 20% of newly available farmland will be allocated to youths.
Masuka said agriculture remains central to Zimbabwe’s economy, supporting industries such as food processing, beverages and other agro-based businesses.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube said there would be no major policy changes during the upcoming Mid-Term Policy Review, saying the economy had gained stability through fiscal and monetary discipline.
The mechanisation announcement was made at the Zimbabwe Industrialisation Conference and Expo (ZICE 2026), which brought together government officials, business leaders and diplomats.
The programme, part of the country’s National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), will see villages equipped with small tractors to support Village Business Units (VBUs) and help communities move away from relying mainly on traditional farming methods such as hoes and animal-drawn ploughs.
Agriculture Minister Dr Anxious Masuka said President Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected to launch the mechanisation initiative in the coming months.
The minister said Zimbabwe’s tractor fleet has grown from 7,500 in 2017 to about 17,800 tractors, with an additional 5,000 tractors expected through partnerships with local dealers.
He said modernising agriculture is key to transforming rural communities into productive business hubs and improving national food security.
Government is also working to support commercial farmers with more machinery while encouraging young people to enter agriculture. Under the current policy, 20% of newly available farmland will be allocated to youths.
Masuka said agriculture remains central to Zimbabwe’s economy, supporting industries such as food processing, beverages and other agro-based businesses.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube said there would be no major policy changes during the upcoming Mid-Term Policy Review, saying the economy had gained stability through fiscal and monetary discipline.
The mechanisation announcement was made at the Zimbabwe Industrialisation Conference and Expo (ZICE 2026), which brought together government officials, business leaders and diplomats.