MIDDLE SABI A private company, Rating Investments, is reviving agricultural operations at ARDA Middle Sabi, giving much hope to the surrounding community. Operations at Middle Sabi came to a halt two years ago after the government failed to service the large scale commercial farm following allegations of gross mismanagement and looting of farming implements by somThe implements looted included irrigation pipes and pumps, tractors, disc harrows, lorries, pick-up trucks and chemicals among others. ARDA Middle Sabi used to employ about half of the population in Middle Sabi and it was the major source of livelihood in the area.
The Director at Rating Investments, Paul Smith said they were geared to bring back the farm to its rightful position, which would see many people employed and contribute to the economic recovery of the country.
This is part of our rural development programme. We have assisted farmers from Mutema-Taona Irrigation Scheme and we are in the process of rehabilitating all the pumps at Chibuwe Irrigation Scheme, said Smith.
However, he lamented that there were about 1 800 hectares of winter wheat under threat due to the ongoing power shortages.
In an interview with The Zimbabwean, Smith said: Even though the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) has supplied us with the timetables for the load shedding, they are not sticking to it. We are expecting up to five tonnes per ha, but this can be reduced to half if the load shedding persists.
Smith said it was not feasible to install generators because the hectarage was too big.