Women's Bank partners Govt

Published: 12 hours ago

The Zimbabwe Women's Microfinance Bank (ZWMB) has joined hands with Government to facilitate access to tractors under the Belarus mechanisation scheme, in a move aimed at advancing agricultural productivity, food security and women's economic empowerment.

ZWMB chief executive, Dr Mandas Marikanda, said while presenting the bank's financial statements for the period ended December 31, 2024, that her institution collaborated with the Ministries of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, and Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development to disburse 260 Belarus tractors.

She said the partnership has helped women farmers, particularly in rural areas, to mechanise their operations.
"Mashonaland East combined mechanisation with dairy farming to create diverse economic opportunities for women. Dairy farmers in Marondera expanded operations with input loans, while others accessed Belarus tractors to improve land preparation," Dr Marikanda said.

In Mashonaland Central, cooperatives benefitted significantly from the programme. "The success was largely driven by the Belarus tractor mechanisation programme, wherein agricultural cooperatives received loans to purchase and operate tractors, enabling them to expand acreage and improve yields. Mechanisation proved to be a game-changer for many women who were previously constrained by manual labour and limited equipment," she noted.

Masvingo province also recorded notable progress as women tapped into the Belarus facility to mechanise sugarcane production in the Lowveld. According to Dr Marikanda, ZWMB's structured finance packages boosted productivity and profitability, while also opening doors for women in sectors traditionally dominated by men.

The Belarus Farm Mechanisation Programme was launched in 2020 by President Mnangagwa to tackle Zimbabwe's critical mechanisation gap, with phase one valued at US$51 million delivering 474 tractors, 60 combine harvesters, 210 planters and five lowbed trucks. Subsequent phases brought in additional equipment worth over US$220 million, distributed through Government institutions and local banks.

Mechanisation has since expanded the country's tillage and harvesting capacity by over 100,000 hectares and is expected to ease farmers' access to timely services, addressing challenges of labour shortages and low productivity.

Beyond tractors, ZWMB has also partnered the Ministry of Agriculture under the Agric4She programme, disbursing more than 2,000 input loans - including maize seed, fertiliser and chemicals - to women farmers in Mashonaland East, West and Central provinces.
"The support has allowed women to improve crop productivity and strengthen household food security," Dr Marikanda said.
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