Zimbabwe Partners with Banks to Help Farmers Secure Title Deeds and Boost Agricultural Investment

A Maize Farm in Zimbabwe

Government has taken a crucial step to enhance agricultural development by partnering with

five banks to offer mortgage options for farmers.

This initiative aims to assist farmers in securing title deeds for their land, enabling them to use

their properties as collateral for improved financial opportunities. During the Research Symposium celebrating the 75th Kutsaga Anniversary in Harare, Lands,

Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka described this agreement as a significant achievement for farmers.

“Farmers can now use their land as collateral because the President has made the

groundbreaking decision to issue title deeds to them.” This initiative follows President Emmerson Mnangagwa's launch of a program to provide title deeds to beneficiaries of the Land Reform Programme, granting them full ownership rights. Over 5 000 farmers have expressed interest in obtaining these title deeds, highlighting the

need for secure land ownership. The participating banks include POSB, CBZ, AFC, FBC, and ZB, which will offer mortgage facilities over a 20-year term. This financial backing is particularly essential for farmers in the tobacco sector, allowing them to leverage their land for additional investments. Dr Masuka noted that this facility would unlock more value for the land, enabling farmers to secure loans for long-term investments to boost tobacco production and productivity. This year, Zimbabwe is expected to achieve a record tobacco output of 320 to 330 million kilograms. Mrs. Monica Chinamasa, president of the Zimbabwe National Farmers Union, emphasised the necessity for banks to assist farmers in obtaining title deeds and the importance of raising awareness among small-scale farmers. She also pointed out issues related to land boundaries that many farmers need to resolve to secure their title deeds.

Dr Frank Magama, CEO of Kutsaga, reported a notable increase in tobacco volumes, projecting a crop size of 280 million kilograms as of June 10. He expressed appreciation for the strategic

guidance provided by the Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan.