Zimplow brings advanced technology to farming sector
ZIMPLOW Holdings Limited, a farm implements manufacturer listed on the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange, has recently introduced new equipment designed to support both large-scale and smallholder farmers. This move aims to promote conservation agriculture, reflecting a commitment to sustainable farming practices.
The company’s initiative is set to provide a range of machinery and tools tailored to the diverse needs of farmers, ensuring that both extensive and smaller agricultural operations can benefit from advanced technology. By catering to these different farming scales, Zimplow Holdings aims to enhance productivity and sustainability within the agricultural sector.
This development aligns with the broader efforts to promote conservative agriculture, which focuses on resource-efficient farming methods that maintain soil health, reduce environmental impact, and ensure long-term agricultural viability.
On Friday, Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu and his deputy, Cde Raj Modi toured Zimplow to get an appreciation of the new products by the company.
During the tour, Mealie Brand operations manager Mr Special Musona said the company has spent more than US$500 000 to improve capacity as well as improve their technology to remain relevant in the market. Mr Musona said the company is introducing new products for the agriculture and mining sectors.
“We are graduating from drawn implements to four-wheel implements right up to post-harvest and in terms of mining we are into manufacturing consumables.
“We are now moving into the manufacturing of the small-scale and medium-scale mining equipment in Zimbabwe,” he said.
Zimplow has introduced an ox-drawn plow which can be used to rip land, unlike the old ones which were used to cultivate the entire ground.
Mr Musona said the new equipment allows farmers to rip a small area for planting. Zimplow also introduced the hammer mill targeting small and medium-scale miners.The hammer mill can also be used to crush different products used to make stock feed.
“We are eyeing the local market as our initial customer base.
“You will realise that we are graduating from small-scale farmers as our customer base to large-scale commercial farmers as our new customers,” he said.
“We are also tapping into the new markets in the mining industry, starting with big mines, especially on consumables and when it comes to processing equipment we are going to tap into the small and medium scale mining industry.”
Mr Musona noted that the industry has been hit by an influx of cheap imports which resulted in a decrease in their sales. He said the company is now selling less than 50 percent of what they used to sell. – chronicle
