Mechanised agriculture takes centre stage at Dondo investor conference

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Mechanised agriculture takes centre stage at Dondo investor conference

3:15 CAT | 26 Nov 2020

All photos. Courtesy of Conselho Autárquico do Dondo

Debates at the first investor conference in the municipality of Dondo, in Sofala, centred around mechanised agriculture and irrigation in the Mandruzi valley, with more than 1,000 hectares for the commercial production of rice.

The Dondo investor conference was attended by the national business community and representatives of higher education institutions.

Nowadays, dry farming is practiced in Mandruzi, whose yield per hectare is considered very low. It is hoped that the conference will induce national investors to take up mechanised agriculture there, with a view to guaranteeing sustainable economic growth in Dondo.

Dondo mayor Manuel Chaparica said that the intention was to make the rive agro-processing more robust, as the city tops production ranking in Sofala province.

“Dondo, the second industrial park in Sofala after Beira, is available to host various investments and has extensive land for housing, industry, farming and livestock projects, among others,” Chaparica explained.

Participants urged the city to eliminate bureaucratic barriers and corruption, or risk chasing investors away.

Ricardo Cunhaque, president of the Sofala Business Council, said that it is important that Dondo municipality “takes these measures urgently, so that the entrepreneurs feel attracted and comfortable investing”.

Attendees representing higher education institutions stressed the importance of guaranteeing professional training and good sense regarding investments that would guarantee a return.

Júlio Taimira, vice-rector of the Instituto Superior de Tecnologias Alberto Chipande, said “the need for career development arises, in order to support the visions we have in view of improving core skills which will guarantee the success of investments”.

Secretary of State for Sofala Stela Zeca called for different sectors to collaborate in ensuring that investments in Dondo delivered the results expected.

“We have to understand that no action can evolve if the chain of connections is not properly established. There will be no evolution if at the grassroots level there is no understanding of the philosophy and everyone is thinking about individual interests,” Zeca warned.

Following the conference, four memoranda of understanding between Dondo municipality and investors and covering agriculture, childcare, commerce and the installation of a dry port are to be signed.

By Francisco Raiva

Source: O País