- Zimbabwe government has announced that lands will be limited to 250 hectors per farm. This move will see the number of farms reduce in size. The rationale behind this action is to provide more people with land to increase output and productivity.
Zimbabwe is divided into 5 regions of farming. The first 3 regions are used for growing food for small scales like maize and staple food. The other 2 regions are used for large scale or commercial use, for growing tobacco, flowers and tea.
The minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, and Rural Resettlement, Perrance Shiri read out the new laws to limit farm sizes. The farms are to be restricted depending on the regions they are located in.
Zimbabwe has a strict policy of one person on one farm which is not being enforced now because of the ongoing land audit.
Benefits for Zimbabwe.
One of the benefits that this move will bring is it will enable more productivity. Imagine everyone having a piece of land for farming, the level of productivity will increase and therefore the economy will rise.
The government also seeks to improve output by so doing, taxes will be paid by farm owners through their produce.
It will also curb food insecurity. Since the year 2000, the country has been undergoing land reforms program which sees many lands lie idle, in the process causing food insecurity
The people will get their livelihood as farming will earn them an income. They will also be healthy and therefore being more productive and giving more returns.
No land will be idle again. All farms will be cultivated and agriculture will rise to be the main economic activity in the country.
Imports
South Africa is the country that imports most of Zimbabwe’s products including the staple maize, soya beans, and wheat. The two countries have built a strong economic relationship that sees both of them benefit. South Africa also doubles as the top trading partner of Zimbabwe.
However, owing to the fact that land rights have not been restored some analysts say that farmers will find it difficult to invest in the project. Some of them were denied title deeds while others had their title deeds taken away from them. What they need is collateral to have confidence in the move.
On the other hand, the government trusts that interfering is their right. After all, it is said that all land belongs to the government before it belongs to an individual either through buying, leasing or renting. Consequently, the idea of property rights has failed.
With that being said, the move to slash farm sizes will lead to more good than bad. On the bright side, the economy will improve, productivity, input, and output will also improve. Many people will be able to provide for themselves as they will have a source of income from agriculture. International relations will be better due to good trading links and so much more.
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