The Sunday News
Roberta Katunga, Senior Business Reporter
THE construction of three grain silos at the Arda Antelope Estate at Maphisa Growth Point has started ahead of an anticipated bumper harvest at the estate which has been revived under a Public Private Partnership.
Estate manager Mr Alec Chinyai revealed that setting up of silos was in progress as material for the silos and driers was already at the farm with harvesting expected to start next month.
“The construction of silos was given precedence as the current maize crop has to be harvested on time to pave way for the land to be cleared and tilled in preparation for the planting of wheat,” said Mr Chinyai.
He said the project that Trek Petroleum was doing in partnership with Arda had seen 15 more locals being employed.
Mr Chinyai said the silos would be ready by 15 March on the day of the first harvest of 400 hectares of maize which has hardened while the other 120 hectares is now at the hardening stage.
“The revival of Antelope Estate has benefited not only the employees at the farm but locals as well because the various additional projects that we undertake always create employment,” he said.
An official with Trek Petroleum Mr Innocent Chifamba who is in charge of construction of the silos said they had finished laying out the foundation for all three silos and construction was well in progress as all the material was in place.
He said one of the silos was 25 metres high and 11 metres in diameter and would carry about 600 tonnes of maize while the other two were six metres in diameter and would each carry 300 tonnes each.
“We are quite certain that within a month we would have completed construction of all the three silos and setting up of the driers. The first stage which is laying out of the foundation is complete and we are now working on the second stage,” said Mr Chifamba.
However, there is uncertainty over the construction of the estimated $1million milling plant in Maphisa with officials from both Trek and Arda saying discussions were still underway despite confirmation last month that produce from Arda’s two estates in the Matabeleland South region, Antelope in Maphisa and Ingwizi in Mangwe, will be processed at the milling plant to be set up in Maphisa.
Mr Chinyai said the responsible authorities were still negotiating with the Rural District Council in the area for an industrial stand.
The three silos are being constructed at the estate in front of the main offices.
The milling plant project was meant to benefit the community of Maphisa as it also translates to employment creation in the area with an undisclosed number of people needed to handle the operations.
Arda board chairman Mr Basil Nyabadza is on record saying it was imperative for the community to benefit from the farms in their area and that value addition is one such component of ensuring that people see rural development in motion.
Part of the grain to be harvested at the estates is destined for National Foods.
According to Arda additional land will be opened up for the next season so as to increase hectarage.
