ZANU PF President and First Secretary Cde E.D Mnangagwa has welcomed the John Deere Mechanisation Facility which he said will assist farmers with the much needed mechanisation solutions in agriculture and help attain vision 2030.   Cde Mnangagwa said this whilst addressing delegates at the launch of the John Deere Mechanisation Facility in Harare today where he commissioned tractors and combined harvesters.   “Out of total arable area of 4.3 hectares, one million hectares is under draught animal power, only half a million hectares under tractor power, with the balance of 2.8 million hectares requiring farm mechanisation. This partnership with John Deere Mechanisation Facility is therefore a welcome development as it will assist our farmers with the much needed mechanisation solutions,” President Mnangagwa said. “I thus exhort farmers who will benefit from this initiative to effectively deploy this assortment of equipment to ensure timely land preparation and an increased planted hectarage in the next summer cropping season.” President Mnangagwa went on to highlight that the Facility would help farmers with mechanisation solutions. “The Facility is worth US$51 million and will unlock 1300 Tractors, 80 Combine Harvesters, 600 Planters, 200 Disc Harrows, 100 Boom Sprayers and 100 Trailers. “The John Deere Mechanisation Facility will also help in ensuring the success of our Agriculture Recovery plan, which is meant to ensure that Zimbabwe achieves self-sufficiency in the production of cereals. Under the Recovery Plan, it is envisaged that 5000 capable farmers with a proven track record in cereal production will be contracted. “These farmers will be supported through access to irrigation infrastructure development, mechanisation and input support as well as enhanced extension services.” Speaking at the same occasion Second Secretary and Vice President Cde Constantino Chiwenga said the John Deere Facility will be a boost for Zimbabwe’s attainment of vision 2030. Agriculture is a very most sector and as Zimbabwe seeks to achieve an upper-middle-income status To attain Vision 2030, President Mnangagwa has always called upon farmers to be productive and to utilise the land and called upon captains of industry and commerce to be proactive, by supporting agriculture.